Description
Book SynopsisEveryone who struggles to meet the demands of work and personal-life responsibilities knows how tough it is to do so. This bold new book shows that it is the deeply engrained separation of work and personal life that has limited our ability to deal effectively with the conflict between them. Beyond Work-Family Balance demonstrates why the image of balance is outmoded and why a new approach -- work-personal life integration -- offers greater promise for meaningful change.
Providing many examples from action research projects in more than a dozen organizations of different kinds, the authors show how using their method of integrating rather than separating personal-life considerations from the workplace can achieve positive outcomes, not only for workers but also for the work. The method offers a way of looking deeply into the work culture to find inequitable and ineffective work practices that are so embedded and routine that no one thinks to question them -- they are jus
Trade ReviewA welcome contribution to theory and practice, this volume describes aprogram developed by the authors (academics and professionals experienced in the work/family and organizational behavior fields) to create a more equitable and satisfying workplace. Their program is different in that it attempts to tie together two organizational goals usually tackled separately: improving the bottom line and improving employees' ability to manage their work and personal lives. The authors' underlying beliefs that work and family life should be integrated and that when it is, gender and diversity issues will be addressed and employees will be more effective contributors to their organizations. When it is not integrated, management often experiences costs without productivity gains, while employees often feel work/family initiatives have not been successful. The authors detail actions taken in several consulting assignments with various companies, sharing surveys and meeting agendas. They describe a process that includes many discussions, frequent feedback, and reevaluation. Problems andfailures as well as successes are reported. Clients are assisted inunderstanding assumptions associated with work needs, personal requirements, communication methods, outcome measurements, and rewards. The ideas presented in this volume are provocative and the suggestions realistically appraised. Recommended for graduate, research, and professional collections.
-- F. Reitman, Pace University
Table of ContentsPreface.
The Authors.
Chapter 1. Introduction: The Equity Imperative.
Part 1: Context and Concepts.
Chapter 2. Pursuing Equity in Gendered Organizations.
Chapter 3. Linking Equity and Organizational Effectiveness:The Dual Agenda.
Part 2: Collaborative Interactive Action Research (CIAR).
Chapter 4. Pursuing the Dual Agenda with CIAR.
Chapter 5. Making Change.
Chapter 6. Walking the Talk: Reflections from the CIARTeam.
Part 3: Looking Ahead.
Chapter 7. Sustaining and Diffusing Equitable Change.
Chapter 8. Looking Ahead to an Equitable World.
Appendix: The Book in Context.
Notes.
Published Reports of Dual Agenda Experimentsand Additional References.
Index.
