A Work-Life Balance

Research Paper # 99791

Business > Human Resources
Labor Studies

A Work-Life Balance

This paper discusses the importance of companies finding a balance between their workers' business and personal needs.

2,236 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that a consistent level of stress in working environments that has pushed workers to be successful has been detrimental to businesses, as well as society. The paper explains that because of these instances of violence and unrest within the working class, such as in the United States Postal Service and the nursing profession, businesses have discovered that they must now find methods that will create a balance between work and life. The paper concludes that businesses must now plan for a restructuring that accommodates the worker in his or her professional and personal existence.

From the Paper:

"The balance between work and an individual's life is significant in modern society because the concept suggests that the person has some form of control over his or her existence. At the beginning of industrialization Karl Marx noted that workers would ultimately have no control over their lives in a capitalistic society. Marx contended that there would be two classes in the social order - the wealthy and the laborers. In Marx' view, the wealthy would own all businesses and the laborer would depend on the business in order to survive in the social order. However, Marx also indicated that as time progressed the wealthy would manipulate the working man into believing that if he worked hard and long enough he would be capable of overcoming his hardships."

Sample of Sources Used:

Cooper, C., and Murphy, L. (2000). Healthy and productive work: An international perspective. London: Taylor and Francis.
Docherty, P., Forslin, J., and Shani, A. (2002). Creating sustainable work systems: Emerging perspectives and practice. London: Routledge.
Hobfall, S., Johnson, R., Monnier, J., and Stone, B. (1998). How antisocial and prosocial coping influence the support process among men and women in the U.S. postal service. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. 39(1-2): 1-9.
Kelleher, M. (1996). New arenas for violence: Homicide in the American workplace. Westport: Praeger.
Roth, W. (1989). Work and rewards: Redefining out work-life reality. New York: Praeger.