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    A REPORT

    ON

    THE STUDY OF WORK LIFE BALANCE AMONG YCH EMPLOYESS

    The report is submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirement of PGDM

    programme of ITM Business School, Siruseri, Chennai.

    BY

    Vinutha.C

    Institute for Technology and Management Business School

    Siruseri, Chennai

    July 2012

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    DECLARATION BY STUDENT

    I, C. Vinutha hereby declare that this project report titled THE STUDY OFWORK LIFE BALANCE AMONG YCH EMPLOYEES is prepared by me under

    the clear guidance and supervision of Asst. Prof Mrs. Felen Christy, ITM Business

    School, Chennai. I have submitted this report for the reward of the degree of post

    graduate diploma in management

    Date: Signature

    Place: Vinutha.C

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    ACKNOWLEDGMENT

    I am grateful to Prof. Lakshmi Mohan, Deputy Director, ITM Chennai, who gave

    me this opportunity to learn, understand and gain the industrial knowledge through

    this Summer Internship Project program.

    I am thankful to Mr. H.S Priyadharshan, GM-HR, YCH and Paul Robert, Asst.

    Manager-HR, YCH for given me the wonderful opportunity to work in such a

    dedicated organisation.

    I am very much thankful to Prof. Susil Kumar for his clear guidance towards the

    project and project related activities.

    I am much obliged to express my deep sense of gratitude and thanks to my faculty

    guide Asst. Prof Mrs. Feleen Christy, ITM business school, for her valuable

    guidance in making this project a success.

    I also thank all my family members for their constant support and help during the

    course of my Summer Internship Program.

    Last but not the least, I honestly extend my thanks to all staff members in YCH for

    their excellent co-operation during my project.

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    CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL

    The foregoing report entitled, THE STUDY OF WORK LIFE BALANCE

    AMONG YCH EMPLOYEES is hereby approved as a creditable study of project

    topic has been presented in a satisfactory manner to warrant its acceptance as

    prerequisite to the degree for which it was submitted.

    It is understood that by this approval, the undersigned do not necessarily endorse

    any conclusion drawn or opinion expressed therein, but approve the report for the

    purpose for which it is submitted.

    Panel of Examiners

    1.

    2.

    3.

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Title Page No1. SYNOPSIS 1

    1.1 Importance of good Work-Life Balance 1

    1.2 Aim of the project and main objective of the project 2

    1.3 Scope of the Project 2

    1.4 Limitations of the project 3

    2. ABSTRACTION OF THE PROJECT 4

    3. INTRODUCTION

    3.1 Company Profile 6

    3.2 Milestones of YCH 7

    3.3 Philosophy, Mission and Vision 9

    3.4 Quality Programs 11

    4 PROJECT DETAILS

    4.1 Introduction 14

    4.2 Stress and Work Life Balance 15

    4.3 Formation of the ideal worker and gender differences 17

    4.4 Work-Life balance issues and their influence on

    children 23

    4.5 Classification of Employees 25

    4.6 Workaholic Employees 26

    4.7 Difference between workaholics and hard workers 27

    4.8 Workaholic Employees and various effects due to work

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    holism 28

    4.9 Work-Life balance arrangements 31

    4.10 Work-Life Balance to YCH Employees 35

    5 OVERALL FINDINGS

    5.1 Research Methodology and Data Interpretation 38

    5.2 Statistical Tools Description 395.3 List of Tables 40

    5.4 Weighted Average Method 45

    6 CONCLUSION

    6.1 Suggestions and Recommendations 49

    7 ATTACHMENTS 50

    8 BIBILIOGRAPHY 62

    LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

    List of Tables:

    Table Name Page No

    5.3.1 The gender of the respondents 40

    5.3.2 The marital status of employees 40

    5.3.3 The age of the respondents 40

    5.3.4 The type of employees in YCH 41

    5.3.5 The no.of employees with stress 41

    5.3.6 The way of handling stress among men employees 42

    5.3.7 The way of handling stress among women 42

    5.3.8 Employees feeling towards the work 43

    5.3.9 How often Employees think about work 43

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    5.3.10 Physical problem due to Stress 44

    5.3.11 Employees dedication towards their children 44

    5.4 WEIGHTED AVERAGE METHOD

    5.4.1 How often employees think about their work 45

    5.4.2 How do employees feel about the time spend at work 465.4.3 How often employees have to cope up with too many

    organizational changes or job task changes 47

    5.4.4 How often Employees get to home on time 48

    List of Charts:

    Table Name Page No

    7.1 Total no.of men and women 50

    7.2 Various Age groups in YCH 50

    7.3 The age of the respondents 51

    7.4 The type of employees in YCH 51

    7.5 The no.of employees with stress 52

    7.6 The way of handling stress among men employees 52

    7.7 The way of handling stress among women 53

    7.8 Employees feeling towards the work 53

    7.9 How often Employees think about work 54

    7.10 Physical problem due to Stress 54

    7.11 Employees dedication towards their children 55

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    1. SYNOPSIS

    The demand for work-life-balance solutions by employees and managers isexpanding at an unprecedented rate. As a result, work-life balance is an

    increasingly hot topic in boardrooms and government halls today. Over the coming

    decade it will be one of the most important issues that executives and human

    resource professionals will be expected to manage.

    1.1 Importance of a good Work-Life Balance:

    Get to the root of the problem

    There could be many reasons why we find ourselves with no leisure time. Usually,

    its because we are taking on too much in a bid to prove ourselves, but it might also

    be that we are out of our depth, we arent organising our work enough or simply

    that our journey to work is too long.

    One of the biggest indicators that we have a work-life-balance problem is our

    health. If we are increasingly taking days off and suffering tiredness, stress and

    sleepless nights we need to address the problem sooner rather than later.

    There are several ways to deal with these issues:

    Dont take work home

    Stop checking work emails from home

    Be less receptive to the boss calling you out-of-hours

    Dont skip lunch, or breaks during the working day.

    Plan some time for you the week.

    Basically, stress forces us to deviate from normal functioning.

    A small amount of stress can be a useful tool, which helps us become motivated

    and efficient. But severe occupational stress impacts negatively both personally and

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    professionallygood balance prevents burnout, which is when we feel emotionally

    exhausted and our sense of personal accomplishment is diminished

    1.2 Aim of the project and main objective of the project:

    The aim of this project is to provide a context for work-life balance issues and to

    undertake a preliminary exploration of work-life balance culture in YCH logistics.

    It further aims to make recommendations based on findings and undertake some

    initial development activity.

    In line with the aims of the project, the objectives are fourfold as follows:-

    To develop a contextual framework for work-life balance issues

    To explore and evaluate the nature of work-life balance culture in YCH

    logistics

    To make suggestions for improvements

    To undertake some preliminary development activity.

    1.3 Scope of the project:

    It highlights the key need & reason for introducing work life balance

    policies,

    Helps to retain the existing employees as well as to attracts new employees,

    Is to reduce sickness and absenteeism,

    To enhances working relationships between colleagues,

    To increase level of production and satisfaction, and

    Decrease the stress and burnout in work/life.

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    1.5 Limitations in the Project:

    The project report was designed on the belief that information provided by

    the respondents is correct.

    The study cant be generalized for a long time as employees interest will be

    changing rapidly over a period of time.

    The survey conducted was limited to Chennai office July 2012. Hence the

    results attained by the study may not be applicable to other regional offices

    Many employees are reluctant in disclosing the true information, so the

    researcher had to proceed with incomplete information

    They might feel the personal information will not maintain as confidential.

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    2. ABSTRACTION OF THE PROJECT

    In this paper I have tried to address the reasons contributing to proper and improper

    balance of work-life in YCH and the various strategies that have been designed by

    them to keep their employees happy. As the younger generation of Indian

    employees are offered great pay with it comes more work pressure which also takes

    a toll on their relationships and life itself. Indian women and senior employees

    suffer the most. The employees need to realize that they need to balance work and

    life for both success at the workplace and a fulfilled life. Organizations can only

    facilitate, but the initiative should be taken by the employee. There are many

    measures that companies can take to ensure work-life balance, such as employeebenefits like child carefacilities, video conferencing to reduce travel, not scheduling

    work events during school holidaysand so on.

    Worklife balance is a cleared concept including proper prioritizing between

    (careerand ambition) on the one hand and "lifestyle" (Health, pleasure, leisure,

    family and spiritual development/meditation) on the other. Related, though broader,

    terms include "lifestyle calm balance" and "life style choices". Also in common

    terms it is known as workaholic stress.

    Much confusion and ambiguity surrounds the understanding and definition of the

    termwork-life balance. As a term in its own right work-life balanceis rarely defined

    forreasons that will become clearer as the discussion progresses. Many of the

    attempts atdefinition relate to work-life balance policy or work-life balance

    arrangements.Nevertheless, it is possible to discern a number of distinct strands in

    the literature inrelation to definitional and conceptual issues.The first of these

    themes concerns the contentious area of family-friendly vs. work-

    lifebalancearrangements. Work-life balanceemerged as a term to replace family-

    friendlyand work-familyin order to reflect a broader and more inclusive way of

    conceptualizingthe issues, and to enable men and those without children, for

    example, to identify withthem. However, the perception that work-life balance

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    policies are a family matter andaimed solely at women with children is still held by

    many employees and employers.

    The work life balance has divided into 3 broad categories (a).Workaholic

    employees (b). Work life balance (Ideal workers) employees (c). Life oriented

    employees

    Then those employees can be divided, according to their departments. The above

    three categories aregoing to deal with employees productivity, efficiency in their

    work, stress level, physical fitness and their health.

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    3. INTRODUCTION

    3.1 Company profile:

    ABOUT YCH GROUP:

    Founded in 1955, YCH Group is the leading integrated end-to-end supply chainmanagement and logistics partner to some of the world's largest companies,

    including Dell, Motorola, Samsung, LG, ExxonMobil, Unilever, LVMH and Royal

    FrieslandCampina. YCH Group's suite of innovative award-winning end-to-end

    supply chain management solutions - Intribution, Intrabution, Retrogistics

    etc. - employ cutting edge web-technologies that are best-in-class across industry

    clusters from electronics and consumer, to chemical and healthcare, to deliver

    powerful competitive advantages for customers.

    A strong proponent of innovation, YCH is recognized for its 7PLapproach in

    seamlessly integrating supply chain strategy with execution to attain success in the

    SCM industry. YCH attained the highly-regarded Singapore Innovation Class in

    October 2005 and has since attained various recognitions, including Top Honours

    as Winner of the IDC Enterprise Innovation Awards 2010. As a forerunner in

    worldwide supply chain security, YCH is the first recipient of the ISO 28000: 2007

    certification for excellent security management in the global SCM industry. YCHalso won the prestigious National Infocomm Award 2008 for its RFID-enabled

    'High Performance Supply Chain Nerve Centre' and was conferred the 'Asian 3PL

    of the Year' award by Supply Chain Asia for four times consecutively from 2007 to

    2010.YCH was named 'Most AdmiredLarge Enterprise (Innovation)' in the high-

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    level ASEAN Business Awards in 2010, and was crowned "Enterprise of the Year"

    in the Singapore Business Awards in 2011.

    Asia Pacific Presence:

    They have expanded their overseas operations significantly over the last decade and

    presently have operations spanning throughout Asia Pacific, including Singapore,

    Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, India,

    Vietnam and Korea.

    3.2 MILESTONES OF YCH

    Humble Beginnings: 1955 to 1980s

    The YCH Story started way back in the 1950s when the company was only doing

    passenger transportation. Known as Yap Chwee Hock Transport and General

    Contractors, they ferried workers from the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and British

    soldiers to-and-fro their workplaces.Then in the 1970s, the company faced its first

    crisis when it lost its main business contract of ferrying the PUB workers. Coupled

    with the set-up of Singapores Bus Service (SBS), YCH was left with 103 empty

    trucks and hardly any passengers.

    Partner in Total Logistic: Early 1980s to 1990s

    Refusing to give up and leave his workers jobless, the late Mr. Yap Chwee Hock

    roped in his oldest son and current CEO of YCH Group, Dr. Robert Yap, to join the

    company and help salvage the business. Freshly graduated from university, Robert

    saw new opportunities to turn the company around by leveraging on the growing

    trade activities of the Singapore Ports. This marked the start of the companys

    venture into the cargo transportation business, which from then on grew rapidly to

    include extended logistics services such as freight and warehousing management.

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    Together with the companys change in direction, was a change in the name to Yap

    Chwee Hock Transport Pvt Ltd, which marked the companys new suite of

    services.

    Regional Expansion: 1995 to 2005 Building on this strong foundation, Yap

    Chwee Hock Transport Pvt Ltd began its forays into the region and also started

    exploiting IT by developing proprietary applications to integrate the various

    logistics services. This pioneering effort paved the way for the company to develop

    a solid logistics network with state-of-the-art DistriParks. The 90s marked the

    organisations transformation into a Supply Chain Management Company, as the

    company embarked on providing award-winning solutions for its MNC clientele.

    Accompanied by another rebranding effort, the company was from then knownsimply as YCH, with the mantra of growing and going with their customers where

    they wanted to be.

    Asia Pacs Leading Supply Chain Company: 2006 till date

    Throughout YCHs history, the organisation has never backed down in the face of

    challenges, but continued evolving to forge new breakthroughs in the supply chain

    industry. With a strong RISE Corporate Philosophy to support its ambitiousmission of becoming Asia Pacifics number 1 Supply Chain Management

    Company, YCH has over the years garnered international recognition and praise

    from the industry, governments and its MNC clientele. Having grown to become

    Singapores largest home-grown Supply Chain Solutions Company today, YCH

    prides itself in seamlessly connecting complex supply chain systems for its world-

    class customers, enabled by cutting-edge, award-winning SCM solutions and

    comprehensive Asia Pacific presence. As a leading player in the industry, YCHs

    keys to success have always rested on being right at the heart of supply chain. By

    combining advanced hardware capabilities, agile customer software skills, and over

    five decades of passion for supply chain excellence, YCH is committed to

    continuously innovate and stay at the forefront of the industry; because YCH is -

    where supply chainconnects.

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    3.3 PHILOSOPHY, MISSION AND VISION

    Philosophy

    YCH is founded on a philosophy that thrives on overcoming challenges. This is

    embodied in the corporate philosophy using the Chinese Character (Sheng)

    meaning to RISE. The acronym of the word RISE was adopted as the companys

    corporate values, focusing on the level of service and confidence they provide to

    their clients.

    R- Reliability

    I- Integrity

    S- Sincerity

    E- Enterprise

    Mission:

    Mission to Be the No. 1 Supply Chain Solutions Company in Asia Pacific.

    Vision:

    The Logistics Superhighway: Vision to Build the Logistics Superhighway in a

    Borderless World, represents the passion in creating the ultimate superhighway of

    optimal efficiency & speed. The Logistics Superhighway will enable the Physical,

    Informational, and Financial flows of the supply chain to flow seamlessly

    throughout a borderless world.

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    YCH BRAND STORY

    History

    Since 1955, YCH has evolved from its humble beginnings as a passenger transport

    company, to a partner in total logistics, and today an award-winning end-to-end

    supply chain management solutions partner to world-class companies throughout

    Asia Pacific.

    The true constant amid the progressive and changing landscape has been the

    companys devotion to its corporate philosophy of RISE, to serve as a beacon in

    Going and Growing with their customers and partners to where they want to be.

    With RISE is focus on developing the core strategic pillars of people, technology,

    and quality, will empower us to create value and innovations to shift the paradigms

    in the supply chain industry.

    EXECUTIVE TEAM

    Robert Yap- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Lun Kai Shen- Chief Financial Officer and Head, North Asia & Australia

    Jason Stevens- Chief Commercial Officer

    Catherine Yap- VP, Corporate Services

    Margaret Toh- VP, Human Capital & Brand Equity

    Roger Yap- VP, China &Operations

    Philip Tan- VP, ASEAN

    Alec Ang- Chief Information Officer

    Simon Moon- VP, North Asia Sales & Global Freight

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    3.4QUALITY PROGRAMS

    YCHGroup Policy Statement:

    We are committed to quality leadership through operations and service excellence

    by making continuous improvements that exceed the expectations of our customers

    and the standards of our competitors.

    Quality Objective

    We aim to provide an Awesome Customer Experienceand encompass Total

    QualityManagementinto our Systems Oriented Environment.In our Learning

    Organisation, we strive to haveContinuous Process Improvementin our bid tobecome the No.1 SCM Company in Asia Pacific

    Management of Quality

    Being a world-class service provider, YCH's Quality deployment continuously goes

    the extra mile to enhance customer satisfaction levels by re-engineering the existing

    processes to create additional value, target for Zero Defects in Service Delivery and

    uphold our World-class Quality Image worldwide. Recognizing that Quality is along journey towards business and operational excellence, YCH believes in sharing

    lessons learned among various operational units for benchmarking good practices.

    Hence, our Quality approach towards work is defined by a determination to

    continuously stay ahead of the pack. Quality Management Reviews are carried out

    regularly with the YCH Management Team to evaluate the effectiveness of the

    Quality System in achieving the Groups Quality Policy and Objectives. The results

    are then shared and clearly communicated to all involved.

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    Quality System Auditors

    Every customer account is subjected to at least one internal quality audit. To align

    the customer quality expectations from various industries, our team of qualitysystem auditors are trained and certified in multiple International Standards to

    support their business initiatives and innovations.

    Proof of Promise

    ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001

    The ISO 14001 certification is the international quality

    standard for environmental management systems (EMS).This accreditation indicates YCHs proven ability to adopt

    proactive measures to manage the impact of our business vis-

    a-vis the environment on a continuous basis.

    YCH establish and maintain a system that assesses and documents environmental

    impacts; establish responsibilities; provide resources, training and communication

    for our employees to better understand the importance of environmental awareness;

    ensure monitoring and review by management and develop objectives for

    continuous improvement.YCH is also OHSAS 18001 certified (the safety

    management system to the internationally recognized Occupational Health and

    Safety Assessment Series), meaning that they treat the health and safety protection

    of the employees as an utmost priority as they go about performing their day-to-day

    business activities.

    ISO 9001:2008The YCH Quality Management System ISO 9001:2008 certification is accredited

    by the prestigious Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Our certified scope covers the

    following areas - Total Integrated Logistics Services and Management

    (Transportation, Warehousing, Distribution, Intribution TM, Intrabution TM,

    Retrogistics TM and International Freight Forwarding).

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    Good Distribution Practice (GDP)

    Started by the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore (HSA), the GDP standard

    means that YCH is more than equipped in managing the quality and integrity of

    products, especially pharmaceutical, throughout the entire distribution chain. YCH

    has received the certification for GDPMDS (Good Distribution Practice for Medical

    Devices in Singapore) as well, which covers the import and supply of wholesale

    medical device products in Singapore. Organizations that are involved in

    distribution or importing Medical Devices in Singapore are required to obtain the

    GDPMDS certificate prior to applying for an Importer or Wholesalers License.

    With this, YCH demonstrates its ability to maintain the quality and integrity of

    medical device products throughout the entire supply chain process.

    Responsible Care

    As a member of the Singapore Chemical Industry Councils

    (SCIC) Responsible Care programme, YCH is committed to

    caring for the environment and maintaining high standards of

    operations for our clients particularly in the chemicals, healthcare

    and pharmaceutical sectors, where stringent requirements arecritical. With our continued achievements in Employee Health &

    Safety Code and Emergency Response Code, YCH aims to

    provide stakeholders with assurance in terms of effective safety

    and health measures.

    Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

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    As an environmentally proactive company, YCH has put in a

    tremendous amount of resources into ensuring our facilities are eco-

    friendly. The LEED Green Building Rating SystemTM is an

    internationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and

    operation of high performance green buildings. Developed by the US

    Green Building Council (USGBC), the LEED standard certifies that

    buildings have improved performance across energy savings, water

    efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved

    indoor.Environmentalquality and stewardship of resources and

    sensitivity to their impacts certified the gold status under LEED.

    YCH DistriPark - Chennai is the first green warehouse in India, saving 30% ofenergy and has a reduced Carbon Dioxide usage of 440tonnes a year. Most

    recently, ourYCH DistriPark Yangshan Free Port in the Shanghai Lingang

    area was also given this prestigious nod of approval by the USGBC authority. A

    demonstration of our companys pledge to contribute to sustainability by

    transforming the way our facilities are designed built and operated. YCH is

    committed to ensuring its facilities are built with world-class, environmentally-

    friendly standards, and will continue to develop more cost-efficient and energy-

    saving green buildings.

    Double A Class Enterprise Certification

    The highest echelon of Green Lane approval in China, the AA Class Status has

    been conferred onto us both in Xiamen and Tianjin by the local customs authorities.

    This certification is an acknowledgement of our outstanding track record in

    management of customs declaration and documentation-related processes for the

    past few years. Being an AA Enterprise means that the customers can enjoy more

    expedited and efficient service when their goods pass through these particular hubs.

    To date, only a handful of companies have been awarded this accolade and it

    signifies the trust the Chinese government has in the management of goods and

    cargo.

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    PROJECT DETAILS

    4.1 Introduction:

    Worklife balance is a cleared concept including proper prioritizing between

    (careerand ambition) on the one hand and "lifestyle" (Health, pleasure, leisure,

    family and spiritual development/meditation) on the other. Related, though broader,

    terms include "lifestyle calm balance" and "life style choices". Also in common

    terms it is known as workaholic stress.

    Much confusion and ambiguity surrounds the understanding and definition of the

    term work-life balance. As a term in its own right work-life balanceis rarely defined

    for reasons that will become clearer as the discussion progresses. Many of the

    attempts at definition relate to work-life balance policy or work-life balance

    arrangements. Nevertheless, it is possible to discern a number of distinct strands in

    the literature in relation to definitional and conceptual issues. The first of these

    themes concerns the contentious area of family-friendly vs. work-life balance

    arrangements. Work-life balance emerged as a term to replace family-friendly and

    work-family in order to reflect a broader and more inclusive way of conceptualizing

    the issues, and to enable men and those without children, for example, to identify

    with them. However, the perception that work-life balance policies are a family

    matter and aimed solely at women with children is still held by many employees

    and employers.

    4.2 Stress and Work Life Balance:

    The number of stress-related disability claims by American employees has

    doubled according to the Employee Assistance Professionals Association in

    Arlington, Virginia. Seventy-five to ninety percent of physician visits are related to

    stress and, according to the American Institute of Stress, the cost to industry has

    been estimated at $200 billion-$300 billion a year. Steven L. Sauter, chief of the

    Applied Psychology and Ergonomics Branch of the National Institute for

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    Occupational Safety and Health in Cincinnati,Ohio, states that recent studies show

    that "the workplace has become the single greatest source of stress".

    Michael Feuerstein, professor of clinical psychology at the Uniformed Services

    University of the Health Sciences at Bethesda Naval Hospital states, "We're seeinga greater increase in work-related neuro skeletal disorders from a combination of

    stress and ergonomic stressors".

    It is clear that problems caused by stress have become a major concern to both

    employers and employees. Symptoms of stress are manifested both physiologically

    and psychologically. Persistent stress can result in cardiovascular disease, sexual

    health problems, a weaker immune system and frequent headaches, stiff muscles, or

    backache. It can also result in poor coping skills, irritability, jumpiness, insecurity,

    exhaustion, and difficulty concentrating. Stress may also perpetuate or lead

    to binge eating, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

    According to James Campbell Quick, a professor of organizational behavior at the

    University of Texas-Arlington, "The average tenure of presidents at land-grant

    universities in the past ten years has dropped from approximately seven to three-

    and-a-half years"

    The feeling that simply working hard is not enough anymore is acknowledged bymany other American workers. "To get ahead, a seventy-hour work week is the new

    standard. What little time is left is often divvied up among relationships, kids, and

    sleep." This increase in work hours over the past two decades means that less time

    will be spent with family, friends, and community as well as pursuing activities that

    one enjoys and taking the time to grow personally and spiritually.

    Texas Quick, an expert witness at trials of companies who were accused of

    overworking their employees, states that "when people get worked beyond theircapacity, companies pay the price."

    Although some employers believe that workers should reduce their own stress

    by simplifying their lives and making a better effort to care for their health, most

    experts feel that the chief responsibility for reducing stress should be management.

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    According to Esther M. Orioli, president of Essi Systems, a stress management

    consulting firm, "Traditional stress-management programs placed the responsibility

    of reducing stress on the individual rather than on the organization-where it

    belongs. No matter how healthy individual employees are when they start out, if

    they work in a dysfunctional system, theyll burn out."

    4.3 Formation of the "ideal worker" and gender differences:

    Work-life conflict is not gender-specific. According to the Center for American

    Progress, 90 percent of working mothers and 95 percent of working fathers report

    work-family conflict. However, because of the social norms surrounding each

    gender role, and how the organization views its ideal worker, men and women

    handle the work-life balance differently. Organizations play a large part in how

    their employees deal with work-life balance. Some companies have taken proactive

    measures in providing programs and initiatives to help their employees cope with

    work-life balance (see: Responsibility of the employer).

    Yet, the root of the work-life conflict may come from the organizational norms and

    ideologies. As a macro structure, the organization maintains the locus of power.

    Organizations, through its structure, practices, symbols and discourse, create and

    reproduce a dominant ideology. The dominant ideology is what drives

    organizational power and creates organizational norms.

    At the top of the organizational hierarchy, the majority of individuals are males,

    and assumptions can be made regarding their lack of personal experience with the

    direct and indirect effects of work-family conflict.

    For one, they may be unmarried and have no thought as to what "normal" family

    responsibilities entail. On the other hand, the high-level manager may be married,

    but his wife, due to the demands of the husbands position, has remained at home,tending solely to the house and children.Ironically, these are the individuals

    creating and reforming workplace policies.

    Workplace policies, especially regarding the balance between family/life and work,

    create an organizational norm in which employees must fall into. This type of

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    organizational behavior, according to Dennis Mumby, "contributes in some ways to

    the structuring of organizational reality, and hence organizational power."

    In other words, the reality of what employees experience, specifically in regards to

    work-life balance, is a direct result of power operating covertly through ideologicalcontrols. This is seen in the ideological norm of the "ideal worker." Many

    organizations view the ideal worker as one who is "committed to their work above

    all else". "Ideal workers" are those that demonstrate extra-role behaviors, which are

    seen as positive attributes.

    Alternatively, those who are perceived as having to divide their time (and their

    commitments) are seen not as dedicated to the organization. As research has shown,

    a managers perception of a subordinates commitment to the organization is

    positively associated with the individuals promotabilty. Hoobler et al.s (2009)

    findings mirrored the perceived commitment-to-promotabilty likelihood.

    Often, these perceptions are placed on the female worker. Managers who perceived

    their female employees of maintaining high work-family conflict were presumed as

    not as committed to the organization, therefore not worthy of advancement. This

    negatively impacts working mothers as they may be "inaccurately perceived to have

    less commitment to their organizations than their counterparts, their advancement

    in organizations may be unfairly obstructed".

    Working mothers often have to challenge perceptions and stereotypes that evolve as

    a working woman becomes a working mother. Working mothers are perceived as

    less competent and less worthy of training than childless women. Another study,

    focusing on professional jobs, found that mothers were 79 percent less likely to be

    hired and is typically held to a higher standard of punctuality and performance than

    childless women.

    The moment when she becomes a mother, a working woman is held at a completely

    different norm than her childless colleagues. In the same Cuddy et al. (2004) study,

    men who became fathers were not perceived as any less competent, and in fact,

    their perceived warmth increased.

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    The ways in which corporations have modeled the "ideal worker" does not

    compliment the family lifestyle, nor does it accommodate it. Long hours and near

    complete devotion to the profession makes it difficult for working mothers to

    participate in getting ahead in the workplace. A Fortune article found that among

    the most powerful women in business (female CEOs, presidents and managing

    directors of major corporations), 29 percent were childless compared to 90 percent

    of men should a woman seek a position of power within an organization, she must

    consider the toll on other facets of her life, including hobbies, personal relationships

    and families. As Jeffrey Pfeffer states: "Time spent on the quest for power and

    status is time you cannot spend on other things, such as family. The price seems to

    be particularly severe for women". Many executive jobs require a substantial

    amount of overtime, which as a mother, many cannot devote because of family

    obligations. Consequently, it is nearly impossible for a working mother in a top

    management position to be the primary caretaker of her child.

    Perceptions of work-life balance and gender differences:

    This circumstance only increases the work-life balance stress experienced by many

    women employees.

    Research conducted by the Kenexa Research Institute (KRI), a division of Kenexa,

    evaluated how male and female workers perceive work-life balance and found that

    women are more positive than men in how they perceive their companys efforts to

    help them balance work and life responsibilities. The report is based on the analysis

    of data drawn from a representative sample of 10,000 U.S. workers who were

    surveyed through Work Trends, KRIs annual survey of worker opinions.

    The results indicated a shift in womens perceptions about work-life balance. In the

    past, women often found it more difficult to maintain balance due to the competing

    pressures at work and demands at home.

    The past two decades have witnessed a sharp decline in mens provider role,

    caused in part by growing female labor participation and in part by the weakening

    of mens absolute power due to increased rates of unemployment and

    underemployment states sociologist Jiping Zuo. She continues on to state that

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    Womens growing earning power and commitment to the paid workforce together

    with the stagnation of mens social mobility make some families more financially

    dependent on women. As a result, the foundations of the male dominance structure

    have been eroded.

    Work-life balance concerns of men and women alike

    Similar discrimination is experienced by men who take time off or reduce working

    hours for taking care of the family.For many employees todayboth male and

    femaletheir lives are becoming more consumed with a host of family and other

    personal responsibilities and interests. Therefore, in an effort to retain employees, it

    is increasingly important for organizations to recognize this balance.

    Young generation views on work-life balance

    According to Kathleen Gerson, Sociologist, young people "are searching for new

    ways to define care that do not force them to choose between spending time with

    their children and earning an income" and " are looking for definition of personal

    identity that do not pit their own development against creating committed ties to

    others". Young adults believe that parents should get involved and support the

    children both economically and emotionally, as well as share labor equally. Young

    people do not believe work-life balance is possible and think it is dangerous tobuild a life dependent on another when relationships are unpredictable. They are

    looking for partners to share the house work and family work together. Men and

    women believe that women should have jobs before considering marriage, for

    better life and to be happy in marriage.

    Young people do not think their mothers generations were unhappy. They also do

    not think they were powerless because they were economically dependent.

    Identity through work

    By working in an organization, employees identify, to some extent, with the

    organization, as part of a collective group. Organizational values, norms

    and interests become incorporated in the self-concept as employees increase

    their identification with the organization. However, employees also identify

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    with their outside roles, or their "true self". Examples of these might be

    parental/caretaker roles, identifications with certain groups, religious

    affiliations, align with certain values and morals, mass media etc.

    Employee interactions with the organization, through other employees,

    management, customers, or others, reinforces (or resists) the employee

    identification with the organization. Simultaneously, the employee must manage

    their "true self" identification.

    In other words, identity is "fragmented and constructed" through a number of

    interactions within and out of the organization; employees dont have just one self.

    Most employees identify with not only the organization, but also other facets of

    their life (family, children, religion, etc.). Sometimes these identities align andsometimes they do not. When identities are in conflict, the sense of a healthy work-

    life balance may be affected. Organization members must perform identity work so

    that they align themselves with the area in which they are performing to avoid

    conflict and any stress as a result.

    Women

    Today there are many young women who do not want to just stay at home and do

    house work, but want to have their careers.About 64% of mothers whose youngest

    child was under age six, and 77% of mothers with a youngest child age 6-17 were

    employed in 2010, indicating that the majority of women with dependent care

    responsibilities cannot or do not wish to give up careers.

    While women are increasingly represented in the work force they still face

    challenges balancing work and home life. Both domestic and market labor compete

    for time and energy. For women, the results show that that only time spent in

    female housework chores has a significant negative effect on wages (Noonan

    1140). Noonan attributes reduced earnings to the time intensive and repetitive

    chores that are stereotyped as feminine, including cooking, washing dishes, and

    cleaning laundry. This leaves women with less time to dedicate to paid labor.

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    Men

    Men know that work alone may not provide their lives with meaning. Young men

    can lose their meaning of life; they want a balance between paid work and

    personal attachments without being victimized at work.More men are

    realizing that work is not their only primary source of fulfillment from

    life. Though working less means a smaller paycheck and higher stress

    levels, men are looking for flexibility just as much as women. However,

    with an ever-changing society, flexibility is becoming much more

    apparent. It seems that some traditional stereotypes are starting to lessen

    just a bit in terms of whos responsible for care of the children says

    human resource specialist Steve Moore. Traditionalism is becoming less

    frequent due to whats actually practical for each individual family.

    Men often face unequal opportunity to family life as they are often expected to be

    the financial supporter of the family unit, The masculine ideal of a worker

    unencumbered by care giving obligations is built into workplace structures and

    patterns of reward (Thorne 2011).

    Facts

    Regarding home life, men and women have similarities with work and home life.

    Today, home is not a heavenly place which men and women could rest and feel

    comfort as before, but home is an additional place of work.Most of us adhere to the

    cultural belief that there's no better guarantee of a happy, healthy, and emotionally

    rich and rewarding life than having children.

    Sociologists find that as a group, parents in the United States experience depression

    and emotional distress more often than their childless adult counterparts.

    4.4 Work-life balance issues and their influence on children

    An increasing number of young children are being raised by a childcare provider or

    another person other than a parent; older children are more likely today to come

    home to an empty house and spend time with video games, television and

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    the internet with less guidance to offset or control the messages coming from these

    sources.

    No one knows how many kids are home after school without an adult, but they

    know the number is in the millions. Also, according to a study by the NationalInstitute of Child Health and Human Development, the "more time that children

    spent in child care, the more likely their sixth grade teachers were to report

    behavior problems..."One possible reason why relations between center care and

    problem behavior may endure is that primary school teachers lack the training as

    well as the time to address behavior problems, given their primary focus on

    academics," the researchers said. The authors emphasized that the children's

    behavior was within a normal range and that it would be impossible to go into a

    classroom, and with no additional information, pick out those who had been in

    child care." The findings are the results of the largest study of child care and

    development conducted in the United States; the analysis tracked 1,364 children

    from birth.

    With the economy in America making single parent and dual earner families stuck

    in the workplace the part-time and full-time work has raised. With more women

    needing to go into the workforce this leaves children at home with relatives,

    babysitters, alone or at a daycare. Having to spend more time under the supervision

    of someone else often times leaves the parents of the child with little to no respect

    for them. If the child is left home by his or her self then the chances of getting into

    trouble is a higher chance.

    Not only will the chances of trouble be higher but how important an education is

    and how much it is valued is not communicated to the child/children.

    However, the reason we need to be putting more hours into work is because of the

    consumption of goods. Kids today are often "babysat" by a television, computer, or

    video games. But it is very important to people today to "Keep up with the Jones's".

    By having the thoughts of this more and more people are buying things they may

    never use after one time just to say they have something. Often times kids can be

    found scoping out a toy they really want and once they receive it they are no longer

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    interested in the object. Because of this happening this is leading to parents needing

    to be in the workplace so that they are able to support their families lifestyle.

    Crittenden, Anne. 2001. Consumption as Care and Belonging.

    In the article The Work-Home Crunch, the authors discusses how although theaverage working hours have remained constant, in reality, those that are more

    educated are working more hours while those that are less educated are working

    less hours. The article states that the people under the most pressure are not just

    overburdened at work. Increasingly, these single parents and two-income couples

    find themselves in a time squeeze between home and work.

    The relationship between work-life and life outside work:

    As previously suggested, attempting to conceptualize work-life balance

    necessitates an understanding of the relationship(s) between work life and non-

    work life. Work analysts note that there are typically five main descriptive models

    that can be drawn on in this respect (Zedeck and Mosier, 1990; ODriscoll, 1996;

    Guest, 2001). A brief overview of these models follows. The first is the

    segmentation modelwhich holds that work and non-work are two distinct spheres

    of life that are lived separately with neither one having influence on the other. In

    contrast, the spill over model hypothesizes that either world can influence the other

    in positive/negative ways. The third model, a compensation model, 8 suggests that

    what may be lacking in one domain in terms of demands and satisfactions can be

    made up for in the other.

    For example, work may be repetitive and routine but this is compensated for by a

    major role in local community activity outside work. In the fourth model activities

    in one sphere facilitate activities in the other. This is the instrumental model. An

    example here is of an instrumental worker who will work long hours to maximize

    earnings, even if it means working in routine jobs, to allow him/her to purchasehouse/car for a young family. The final model is the conflict model. This proposes

    that when there are high levels of demand in all spheres of life, difficult choices

    will have to be made which will often result in conflicts.

    4.5 Classification of Employees:

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    Employees in YCH have divided according their departments and then classified

    into 3 different parameters

    Various departments:

    Finance

    Human resources

    Marketing

    Operations

    Information technology

    4.6 Workaholic Employees:

    A workaholic is a person who is addicted to work. The term generally implies that

    the person enjoys their work; it can also imply that they simply feel compelled to

    do it. There is no generally accepted medical definition of such a condition,

    although some forms of stress, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

    and obsessive compulsive disorder can be work-related. Work holism is not the

    same as working hard. Despite logging in an extraordinary amount of hours and

    sacrificing their health and loved ones for their jobs, workaholics are frequently

    ineffective employees. Workaholics feel the urge of being busy all the time, to the

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    point that they often perform tasks that aren't required or necessary for project

    completion. As a result, they tend to be inefficient workers, since they focus on

    being busy, instead of focusing on being productive. In addition, workaholics tend

    to be less effective than other workers because it's difficult for them to be team

    players, they have trouble delegating orentrusting co-workers, or they take on so

    much that they aren't as organized as others.

    4.7 Difference between workaholics and hard workers:

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    Workaholic Employees Hard Workers

    1. Hard workers experience their

    work as a necessary and at time

    fulfilling obligation.

    2. Hard workers know when to set

    limits on their work in order to

    be fully available and present

    for their family, friends and to

    be able to participate in play.

    3. Hard workers can turn off theirwork appetite.

    4. A 'workaholic', on the other

    hand, is one whose

    subconscious forcibly immerses

    him/her in work - even though

    their work may not even be

    satisfying! They become so,

    only, or mainly, to avoid having

    to interact with one's family and

    acquaintances

    5. A workaholic hardly works

    1. Workaholics see their work as a

    place of safety from the

    unpredictable of life and a

    distance from unwanted feelings

    and/or commitments.

    2. Workaholics allow their work to

    take top billing over all other

    areas of their life. Commitments

    to family, friends and theirchildren are often made and then

    broken to meet work demands

    3. Workaholics cannot work. They

    remain preoccupied with work no

    matter where they are playing

    golf with friends, attending their

    childrens sporting events, etc.

    4. A 'hardworking professional' is

    one who put in a lot of hard

    work, to ensure that his output

    proves to be among the best in

    the market - and then goes home

    to spend quality time with his or

    her loved ones, completely

    blocking-off all thoughts about

    his/her work

    5. A hard worker, really does work

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    4.8 Workaholic Employees and various effects due to work holism:

    Psychological effects on

    workaholics:

    The negative effects of

    Workaholism can be felt on

    mental and social life too.

    "Stress, Frustration,

    Depression, Loneliness,

    Anger, Memory blank outs

    and Unable to enjoy

    anything. Workaholics are

    so used to working that they

    do not enjoy anything other than work.

    Stress and Frustration:

    Stress is the harmful physical and emotional response that occurs when there is a

    poor match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs of the

    worker. A variety of factors contribute to workplace stress such as negative

    workload, isolation, extensive hours worked, toxic work environments, lack of

    autonomy, difficult relationships among coworkers and management, management

    bullying, harassment and lack of opportunities or motivation to advancement in

    ones skill level.

    Stress-related disorders encompass a broad array of conditions,

    including psychological disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety,post-traumatic stress

    disorder) and other types of emotional strain (e.g., dissatisfaction, fatigue, tension,

    etc.), maladaptive behaviors (e.g., aggression, substance abuse), and cognitive

    impairment (e.g., concentration and memory problems).

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    Frustration:

    Frustration is acommon emotional response to opposition. Related

    to disappointmentit arises from the perceived resistance to the fulfillment of

    individual will. The greater the obstruction, and the greater the will, the more thefrustration is likely to be. Causes of frustration may be internal or external. In

    people, internal frustration may arise from challenges in fulfilling personal

    goals and desires, instinctual drives and needs, or dealing with

    perceived deficiencies, such as a lack ofconfidence or fear of social

    situations. Conflict can also be an internal source of frustration; when one has

    competing goals that interfere with one another, it can create cognitive dissonance.

    External causes of frustration involve conditions outside an individual, such as a

    blocked road or a difficult task. While coping with frustration, some individuals

    may engage in passiveaggressive behavior, making it difficult to identify the

    original cause(s) of their frustration, as the responses are indirect. A more direct,

    and common response, is a propensity towards aggression.

    Depression:

    Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's

    thoughts, behavior, feelings and physical well-being.Depressed people may

    feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or

    restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable; experience

    loss of appetite or overeating, have problems concentrating, remembering details,

    or making decisions; and may contemplate or attempt suicide. Insomnia, excessive

    sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems that are

    resistant to treatment may be present.Depressed mood is not necessarily a

    psychiatric disorder. It is a normal reaction to certain life events, a symptom of

    some medical conditions, and a side effect of some medical treatments. Depressed

    mood is also a primary or associated feature of certain psychiatric syndromes such

    as clinical depression.

    Loneliness:

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    Loneliness isanunpleasant feeling in which a person feels a strong sense

    ofemptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships.

    Loneliness is not a subjective experience, since humans are social creatures by

    nature. Loneliness has also been described as social pain a psychological

    mechanism meant to alert an individual of isolation and motivate her/him to seek

    social connections

    Anger:

    Anger as a normal emotion that involves a strong uncomfortable and emotional

    response to a perceived provocation. R. Novaco recognized three modalities of

    anger: cognitive (appraisals), somatic-affective (tension and agitations) and

    behavioral (withdrawal and antagonism). DeFoore 2004describes anger as a

    pressure cooker; we can only apply pressure against our anger for a certain amount

    of time until it explodes. Anger may have physical correlates such as increased

    heart rate, blood pressure, and levels ofadrenaline and noradrenalin. Some view

    anger as part of the fight or flight brain response to the perceived threat of

    harm.Anger becomes the predominant feeling behaviorally, cognitively, and

    physiologically

    Memory Black Outs (alcohol related amnesia):

    A blackout is a phenomenon caused by the intake ofalcohol or other substance in

    which long term memory creation is impaired or there is a complete inability to

    recall the past. Blackouts are frequently described as having effects similar to that

    ofanterograde amnesia, in which the subject cannot create memories after the event

    that caused amnesia. 'Blacking out' is not to be confused with the mutually

    exclusive act of 'passing out', which means loss of consciousness. Research on

    alcohol blackouts was begun by E. M. Jellinek in the 1940s.

    Using data from a survey ofAlcoholics Anonymous (AA) members, he came to

    believe that blackouts would be a good predictor of alcoholism. However, there are

    conflicting views as to whether this is true.

    The negative psychological effects of an alcohol related blackout are often

    worsened by those who suffer from anxiety disorders

    Physiological effects on workaholics:

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    Regarding effects on physical health, an increased risk of high blood pressure, Type

    2 diabetes, chronic pain and a weak immune system.

    Productivity and efficiency from workaholic employees:

    Working more doesn`t mean you care more or that you get more done, it just means

    you spend more time at work. Workaholics spend more time on the job, creating

    more problems than they actually solve, and losing more sales than they actually

    win. People show up early and stay late just to appease a false representation of

    productivity but they aren`t really being productive. They are tired, hungry and

    have not clear direction.

    Absenteeism:

    Absenteeism is another big problem in an organisation; workaholics take more

    leaves, like sick leave due to stress at work and pressure, In a recent survey

    researchers found normal man can do 9 hours of work daily, if exists 9 hours (like

    workaholics), it may end up with stress and pressure and it ends up with health

    problems and it results in absenteeism.

    4.9 Work-life balance arrangements:

    Flexible leave arrangements:

    Flexible leave allows employees to take leave at times that fit with their personal

    and family commitments and which are also convenient to the employer. This may

    involve using leave in small amounts such as 1 day for a special event or

    extending leave entitlements to enable longer absences from work.

    Benefits of flexible leave

    Flexibility in taking leave allows employees to better manage work and life

    commitments. It also makes good business sense by:

    providing greater flexibility in workforce management;

    reducing unplanned absences and employment related costs;

    responding to workload peaks and troughs;

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    minimizing the need for relief to cover long absences;

    attracting and retaining key employees; and

    To increasing employee satisfaction and commitment.

    Flexible working time arrangements:

    It is important to balance the various interests. Working time policy, which places

    emphasis on the importance of labour market flexibility, may be a vital element in

    businesses competitive strategies. Working time flexibility may also complement

    the growing diversity in lifestyles and the rise of dual earner families. Increasingly

    more employees seem interested in tailor-made hours matching their personal needs

    for flexibility. The importance to create a win-win situation

    Part-time working

    Job sharing

    Job splitting

    Flexi time

    Personalized/flexible hours system

    Compressed working week

    Part time working:

    A part-time work is a form ofemployment that carries fewer hours per week than

    a full-time job. Workers are considered to be part time if they commonly work

    fewer than 30 or 35 hours per week. According to the International Labour

    Organization, the number of part-time workers has increased from one-fourth to a

    half in the past 20 years in most developed countries, excluding the US. There are

    many reasons for working part time, including the desire to do so, having one's

    hours cut back by an employer and being unable to find a fulltime job.

    Job sharing:

    Alternative work schedules in which two employees are voluntarily share theresponsibilities of one full time job and receive the benefits of salary and pro-data.

    Job sharing creates regular part time (half days, alternative days, and alternative

    weeks etc) where there was one full time position, and thus avoids a total loss of

    employment in a layoff.

    Job splitting:

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    In job-splitting, two people simply divide one job between them so that both parts

    are covered. The work routines are fairly well established and the need for co-

    ordination between them will be minimal. The main rationale for job-splitting tends

    to be achieving flexibility of cover, labour cost reduction or job creation. Job-

    splitting can be an effective way of achieving continuity of cover for longer than a

    standard working week without the addition of a second half-time job. For example,

    a full-time job can be split into two 60 per cent jobs.

    Flexi time:

    Flexi time is a variable work schedule, in contrast to traditionalwork arrangements

    requiring employees to work a standard 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. day. Its invention is usually

    credited to William Henning. Under flextime, there is typically a core period (of

    approximately 50% of total working time / working day) of the day, when

    employees are expected to be at work (for example, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.),

    while the rest of the working day is "flexi time", in which employees can choose

    when they work, subject to achieving total daily, weekly or monthly hours in the

    region of what the employer expects, and subject to the necessary work being done.

    A flextime policy allows staff to determine when they will work, while a flex

    place policy allows staff to determine where they will work.

    Its practical realization can mainly be attributed to the entrepreneur Wilhelm

    Haller who founded Hengstler Gleitzeit, and later "Interflex Datensysteme GmbH"

    in Southern Germany, where today a number of companies offer Flexi time

    (Gleitzeit) solutions which have grown out of his initiative.

    Flexible working hours System:

    A system of flexible working hours gives employees some choice over the actual

    times they work their contracted hours. Such a system can be a good way of

    recruiting and retaining staff - since it provides an opportunity for employees to

    work hours consistent with their other commitments (e.g. child care). Most flexible

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    working hours schemes have a period during the day when employees must be

    present. This is known as "core time". A typical core time would be 10.00 a.m. to

    4.00 p.m. Other than the core time, employees may choose when they start and

    finish work within flexible bands at the beginning and end of each day. These

    bands are typically 08:0010:00 and 16:0018:000. However, there is wide scope

    for variation depending on the core time, the hours the work place is open and the

    nature of the business.

    Compressed working week:

    A compressed working week gives you the benefit of an extra day off by allowing

    you to work your usual no. of hours in fewer days per pay period. Work for 10

    hour-days each week and then enjoy a three day weekend, or work 80 hours in nine

    days with an extra day off every other week.

    Work-Life Balanced Employees and its positive effects on profession and

    personal:

    Benefits of Work-Life Balance:

    Businesses earn 20% more from their staff if they have a healthy work-life balance,

    according to new research from talent development firm Morgan Redwood.

    The research revealed that nine out of 10 firms believe there is a direct connection

    between the wellbeing of staff and company performance, and that ensuring staff

    have a good home/work balance reduces absenteeism, improves wellbeing and

    increases productivity

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    Work- Life Balance Benefits to YCH:

    Decrease staff absenteeism and sick leave

    Gain focused and engaged employees and teams

    Staff achieve more productivity everyday Rise and sustain staff satisfaction levels

    Increase employee morale and workplace performance

    Enrich staff quality of work/life balance

    4.10 Work-Life Balance to YCH Employees:

    Reduce stress and anxiety

    Improve concentration and sustain task focus longer Increase energy and vitality

    Decrease unproductive time leakage

    Improve staff health levels

    Psychological Effects:

    There are no negative

    psychological effects like

    frustration, depression and

    loneliness. As far as YCH

    is concerned, work life

    balanced employees are

    least suffering from the

    psychological effects. In

    YCH work life balanced

    employees are good in

    productivity and efficiency.

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    Physiological Effects:

    In YCH even work life balanced employees are suffering from physiological

    problem because of long travel hours.

    Productivity and Efficiency:

    During the project, survey was taken in work-life balanced employees productivity

    Absenteeism:

    They dont have any psychological and physiological problem so absenteeism is

    very low.

    Stress Levels:

    Stress levels in work life balanced employees are very low.

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    5. OVERALL FINDINGS

    5.1 Research Methodology and Data Interpretation:

    Research Design:

    The adoption of a proper methodology is an essential and important step in

    conducting survey (or) any research .In this study the researcher has adopted a

    descriptive research method. Descriptive research studies are those studies which

    are concerned with describing the characteristics of a particular individual or of a

    group.

    Research Tool:

    A questionnaire was used as the research tool for this study. The questionnaire was

    chosen as it provides a more comprehensive view than any other research tool.

    Data Collection Method

    Primary Data:Primary data are those data, which are collected as fresh and for the first time, and

    thus happens to be original in character. Primary data can be collected in five ways

    through Survey. In this project work interview schedule method has been adopted.

    Secondary Data:

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    The secondary data have been compiled from the internal and external sources. The

    internal source includes the information from the company reports. Besides this, a

    number of discussions were held with the officers in human resources department.

    5.2 STATISTICAL TOOLS DESCRIPTION

    Percentage analysis

    Weighted Average Method

    Percentage analysis:

    Percentage analysis is often used in data presentation for they simplify numbers,

    reducing all of them to a 0 to 100 range. Through the use of percentages, the data

    are reduced in the standard form with base equal to 100 to which fact facilities

    relative comparisons

    Percentage =No. of response/ Total no. of respondents*100

    Weighted Average Method:

    The weighted average is obtained on dividing the weighted totals by the sum of

    weights, let X1, X2Xn occur with weights W1, W2.Wn then

    Weighted Average = WiXi / Wi

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    5.3 TABLES

    5.3.1 TABLE SHOWING THE GENDER OF THE RESPONDENTS:

    5.3.2 TABLE SHOWING THE MARITAL STATUS OF EMPLOYEES:

    Option No. of Respondents Percentage

    Married 28 56.0

    Unmarried 22 44.0

    Total 50 100.0

    5.3.3 TABLE SHOWING THE AGE OF THE RESPONDENTS:

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    Option No. of Respondents Percentage

    Male 28 56.0

    Female 22 44.0

    Total 50 100.0

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    5.3.4 TABLE SHOWING THE TYPE OF EMPLOYEES IN YCH:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Workaholic 28 56.0

    Work Life

    balancedEmployees 20 40.0

    Life Style

    Oriented 2 4.0

    Total 50 100.0

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    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Below 25 12 24.0

    25-30 12 24.0

    31-35 18 36.036-40 04 8.0

    Above 40 04 8.0

    Total 50 100.0

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    5.3.5 TABLE SHOWING NO.OF EMPLOYEES WITH STRESS:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Peak Stress 8 16.0

    Moderate Stress 30 60.0

    No Stress 12 24.0

    Total 50 100.0

    5.3.6 TABLE SHOWING THE HANDLING OF STRESS AMONG MEN

    EMPLOYEES:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Meditation 0 0.0

    Physical Fitness 0 0.0

    Soft/Hot drinks 14 28.0

    Tobacco Intake 18 36.0

    Not Interested 18 36.0

    Total 50 100.05.3.7 TABLE SHOWING THE HANDLING OF STRESS AMONG WOMEN

    EMPLOYEES:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

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    Meditation 0 0.0

    Physical Fitness 0 0.0

    Soft/Hot drinks 24 48.0

    Tobacco Intake 1 2.0

    Not Interested 25 50.0Total 50 100.0

    5.3.8 TABLE SHOWING HOW EMPLOYEES FEEL WHEN THEY ARE IN

    WORK:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Very Unhappy 0 0.0

    Unhappy 0 0.0

    Indifferently 4 8.0

    Happy 24 48.0

    Very Happy 22 44.0

    Total 50 100.0

    5.3.9 TABLE SHOWING HOW OFTEN EMPLOYEES THINK ABOUT

    WORK:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Never 2 4.0

    Rarely 0 0.0

    Sometimes 14 28.0

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    Often 10 20.0

    Always 24 48.0

    Total 50 100.0

    5.3.10 TABLE SHOWING WHENEVER THEY FEEL STRESS THEY FEEL

    PAIN IN THE AREA:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Neck 7 14.0

    Head 9 18.0

    Lower-Back 9 18.0

    Shoulders 5 10.0

    All the above 20 40.0

    Total 50 100.0

    5.3.11 TABLE SHOWING HOW OFTEN EMPLOYEES SPEND THEIR

    TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN FOR ACADEMIC WORK:

    Option

    No. of

    Respondents Percentage

    Daily 3 6.0

    Weekends 18 36.0

    Complex Project 10 20.0Ensuring only 3 6.0

    Rarely 16 32.0

    Total 50 100.0

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    5.4 WEGIHTED AVERAGE METHOD:

    5.4.1 Weighted Average Method for How often employees think about their

    work:

    Options No.of respondents Weight assigned Weighted average

    Never 2 5 10

    Rarely 0 4 0

    Sometimes 14 3 42

    Often 10 2 20

    Always 24 1 24

    Total = 96

    Weighted Moving Average = Total no.of Weighted average/Total no.of

    respondents

    = 96/50

    = 1.92or 2

    Inference:

    From above table, we infer that the respondent often think about their job, when

    actually they are not in the job.

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    5.4.2 Weighted Average Method for how do employees feel about the time

    spend at the work:

    Options No.of respondents Weight assigned Weighted average

    Very Unhappy 0 5 0

    Unhappy 0 4 0

    Indifferent 4 3 12

    Happy 24 2 48

    Very happy 22 1 22

    Total= 82

    Weighted Moving Average = Total no.of Weighted average/Total no.of

    respondents

    = 82/50

    = 1.64 approximately (2)

    Inference:

    From above table, we infer that the respondent always feel Happy when they are at

    work.

    5.4.3 Weighted Average Method for how often employees have to cope up with

    too many organizational changes or job task changes:

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    Options No.of respondents Weight assigned Weighted average

    Always 10 5 50

    Often 8 4 32

    Sometimes 6 3 18

    Rarely 12 2 24

    Never 14 1 14

    Total= 138

    Weighted Moving Average = Total no.of Weighted average/Total no.of

    respondents

    = 138/50

    = 2.76 approximately (3)

    Inference:

    From above table, we infer that the respondent sometimes cope up with too many

    organizational changes and job task changes.

    5.4.4 Weighted Average Method for how often they get to home on time:

    Options No.of respondents Weight assigned Weighted average

    Always 2 5 10

    Often 4 4 8

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    Sometimes 12 3 36

    Rarely 18 2 36

    Never 14 1 14

    Total= 104

    Weighted Moving Average = Total no.of Weighted average/Total no.of

    respondents

    = 104/50

    = 2.08 approximately (2)

    Inference:

    From above table, we infer that the respondent rarely get to their home on time

    1. CONCLUSION:

    A study on work life balance among the employees in YCH is focus on analyzing

    the importance of work life balance. To conclude with the study, it is found that the

    work life balance among the employees at YCH is Moderate. The organization

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    allows utilizing the WLB benefits but some innovations has to be done for further

    improvement. The company has to pay more attention towards WLB benefits.

    From the research it is well identified that quality of work life can be balanced

    effectively among the employees in YCH. Hence, the management should take

    necessary steps to improve the work life balance among the employees.

    6.1 Suggestions:

    The company can come up with new and innovative ideas to improve the

    WLB programs and practices.

    Flexible arrangements of the company should reach each and every

    individual

    Nearly 60% of employees think about their job always it may results in

    stress, so employees can try to reduce it

    Women employees should utilize the sports arrangements made by YCH

    properly

    Employees should improve their health because consumption of tobacco

    and drugs are high.

    Handling of stress due to work should change in a better way without

    tobacco and drugs consumption, company can give awareness program.

    The company while implementing work/ life balance initiatives an

    evaluation and feedback system should be a part of that process

    Nearly 90% of the employees have Health related problems in a chronic

    way like neck pain, lower back ache and shoulder pain due to stress, so

    health related programs and campaigns can conduct in the office in monthly

    basis with the help of dr.

    2. ATTACHMENTS

    7.1 Total no.of Men and Women:

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    7.2Marital Status of YCH employees:

    7.3Various Age groups in YCH:

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    7.4 Types of Employees in YCH:

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    7.5 Total no.of Employees with Stress:

    7.6 Handling of Stress among Employees:

    7.7 Feelings towards work:

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    7.10 Employees get home on time:

    7.11Employees spending their time with their children for academic purpose:

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    I. WORK LIFE B ALANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

    Work Life Balance is understood as managing the career and personal life. In the

    current situation employees like you and me have got daily goals and challenges to

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    achieve in an organisation which may create pressure on us and resulting in stress.

    It is vital for us to understand whether we are in stress, hence this study. Kindly

    spend few minutes with me to answer this questionnaire which will take 10-15

    minutes.

    This project is exclusively for YCH and also for my academic purpose. Hence itwill keep as a Confidential

    DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:

    1. Name: -----------------------------------------------------

    2. Designation: ---------------------------------------------

    3. Gender:

    4. Marital status:

    5. Department:

    6. Age group:

    Questionnaires

    1. How often do you spend your time for extra activities like

    sports/dance/others

    a. Rarely

    b. Often

    c. Regularly

    d. Not interested

    2. How many hours do you spend your time in office : exclude travelling time

    a.

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    d. 12 hours & Above

    3. Have you missed out any important function / appointments in last 1 year

    because of your official meetings if yes how many functions?

    a. One or two function

    b. 3 to 4 functions

    c. I am busy on travelling and office work

    d. Never

    4. How many hours do you spend for travelling daily? :

    a.

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    b. No

    If yes how do you handle it?

    a. Meditation

    b. Physical fitness

    c. Hot/soft drinks

    d. Tobacco intake

    e. Others, specify

    8. How is your participation in your childs/childrens academic part?

    a. Sit with them for their daily academic work

    b. Spend valuable time during weekend

    c. Support for their complex project

    d. I ensure that their studies are going good

    e. Rarely Spend time with them

    9. Do you agree that your colleagues are able to balance work and personal

    life?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    10. Does your company support in any of the below?

    a. Flexible start time

    b. Flexi end time

    c. Holidays

    d. Leave schemes

    e. Job sharing

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    f. Sabbatical leave

    g. Flexible hours in general

    h. Condensed work( instead of 8 hours in 6 days , 9 hours I 5 days

    is called condensed work)

    11. What are the facilities available in ych? How far it is useful for you to

    balance your work and personal life?

    12. Are your parents with you?

    a. Yes b. No

    13. How often do you think about work (when you are not actually at work or

    traveling to work)?

    a. Never think about work

    b. Rarely

    c. Sometimes

    d. Often

    e. Always

    14. How do you feel about the amount of time you spend at work?

    a. Very unhappy

    b. Unhappy

    c. In differently

    d. Happy

    e. Very happy

    15. I have to cope with too many organizational or job task changes.

    a. Always

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    b. Often

    c. Sometimes

    d. Rarely

    e. Never

    16. I get home on time

    a. Always

    b. Often

    c. Sometimes

    d. Rarely

    e. Never

    Health based questions on stress

    17. I frequently have guilty feelings if I relax and do nothing

    a. Yes b. No

    18. I find myself thinking about organizational challenges when am at home

    or in a holiday

    a. Yes b. No

    19. My appetite has changed, over consumption of food/loss of appetite / may

    skip meals

    a. Yes b. No

    20. I seem to be listening even though I am preoccupied with my own thoughts

    a. Yes b. No

    21. What do you do silently when you are at stress?

    a. Removing nails

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    b. Shaking legs

    c. Grinding my teeth

    d. Keep a hand on head and do something

    22. Whenever I feel stress I feel pain in the

    a. Neck

    b. Head

    c. Lower-back

    d. Shoulders

    23. If I find stress at work I will go for

    a. Alcohol

    b. Caffeine

    c. Nicotine or drugs

    d. not interested/not consuming

    24. Do you have the habit of taking rest after sleep?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    II. Workaholic Questionnaire

    1. Do you get more excited about your work than about family or anything

    else?

    a. Yes

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    b. No

    2. Do you work more than 40 hours a week?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    3. Is the future a constant worry for you even when things are going very well?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    4. Do you think about your work while driving, falling asleep or when others

    are talking?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    5.Do you work or read during meals?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    6.Do you believe that more money will solve the other problems in your life?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    7.Do you do things energetically and competitively including play?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    8. Are you afraid that if you don't work hard you will lose your job or be a

    failure?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    9. Is work the activity you like to do best and talk about most?

    a. Yes

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    b. No

    10. Is your family or friends given up expecting you on time?

    a. Yes

    b. No

    8. BIBILIOGRAPHY

    Web Site Links:

    http://www.worklifebalancecentre.org/nickhalpinl.php

    htpp://www.workfamily.com/Work-

    lifeClearinghouse/TipoftheMonth/tip0020.htm

    htpp://www.worklifebalancecentre.org/articleflex.php

    http://www.bussinessweek.com/managing/content/mar2009/ca2009

    037-73419.htm?c ...

    www.google.com

    http://www.bussinessweek.com/managing/content/mar2009/ca2009037-73419.htm?chttp://www.bussinessweek.com/managing/content/mar2009/ca2009037-73419.htm?chttp://www.bussinessweek.com/managing/content/mar2009/ca2009037-73419.htm?chttp://www.bussinessweek.com/managing/content/mar2009/ca2009037-73419.htm?c