The need for employees to maintain work-life balance goes without saying. It has been established that work-life balance enhances productivity and general fulfillment with one’s job (Deery & Jago, 2015). Individuals who commit too much time and effort to their work at the expense of other aspects of their lives such as family usually encounter pressures that hinder their productivity. Taylor Emmett is one such individual. He is so committed to his work that he barely has time for his family (Behfar & Bodily, 2015). The result of his failure to achieve work-life balance is stress and conflicts at home. The case of Emmett underscores the importance of staying committed to one’s job without neglecting other life domains like the family.
Issues faced
The extreme demands of his job are among the issues that Emmett faces. His job is so demanding that he has been forced to set up a home office (Behfar & Bodily, 2015). This is an indication that he is overly committed to his job. It is true that there are countless employees who have created spaces in their homes where they carry out their work. This is normal and could be healthy. However, Emmett’s case is different. It appears that he set up the home office as part of his strong work ethic. Emmett subscribes to a “first in, last out” philosophy (Behfar & Bodily, 2015). While his attitude is commendable, it points to some bigger issues. He is simply too committed to his job. The other issue that Emmett faces is family demands. He is unable to offer adequate attention to his wife and daughter, Julie. His wife laments “And to top it off, I hear you cursing at her? Seriously, Emmett! You need to get a grip!” (Behfar & Bodily, 2015). His wife’s complaints are clear indication that Emmett is facing pressures at home.
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Problems encountered
The issues discussed above have resulted in a number of problems. The chief problem is Emmett’s inability to fully attend to his family. Emmett curses at his child when he finds that she has ruined the walls and the carpet with paint (Behfar & Bodily, 2015). Emmett’s behavior suggests frustration. It can be argued that the pressures at work have evaded his home. It is common for employees whose job demands are excessive to lack the focus needed to fully attend to their families (Wepfer et al., 2015). It is therefore not surprising that Emmett is unable to be a responsible father and a loving husband. Apart from the problems at home, the other challenge that Emmett face is extreme commitment to his job. As already noted above, Emmett is usually first to arrive for work and the last to leave. His approach only benefits his employer while adversely affecting his own wellbeing and that of his family.
Proposed solutions
Emmett represents the thousands of employees who are too dedicated to their jobs. If Emmett truly wishes to stabilize his marriage, he must effect changes. One proposal promises to fix all the problems that Emmett is grappling with: reduce his involvement and work and commit more time for his family. As mentioned earlier, work-life balance is vital for employee productivity. Work-life balance enables employees to allocate adequate time to all important elements of their lives.(Jones, Burke & Westman, 2013). If Emmett is to save his marriage and become more productive, he needs to spend less time at work and be more present at home. It is expected that Emmett’s employer will protest. However, it has to be remembered that Emmett has been a model employee whose marriage is on the brink of collapse. Therefore, it should be fairly simple to persuade the employer to allow Emmett to leave work earlier so that he is able to raise his child and be available for his wife. This solution will undoubtedly allow Emmett to experience greater job satisfaction while safeguarding his marriage. Employers need to join forces with their employees to ensure work-life balance (Russo, Shteigman & Carmeli, 2015). It is therefore important for Emmett’s employer to support him in his quest for work-life balance.
In conclusion, the modern workplace is becoming more demanding. Employees are being forced to give up other interests as they dedicate more time to their jobs. This has had an adverse impact on the health and general wellbeing of the employees. The case of Emmett examined above highlights the damaging impacts of the lack of work-life balance. As one commits too much time to their work, they are unable to be part of their child’s development. They are also unable to participate fully in the joys of marriage. It is vital for employees to ensure that even as they dedicate effort to their jobs, their marriages and other elements of their lives do not suffer.
References
Behfar, K. & Bodily, J. H. (2015). Why is the Universe against me? (A). Retrieved 30 th June 2017 from https://ssrn.com/abstract=2974838
Deery, M. & Jago, L. (2015). Revising Talent Management, Work-Life Balance and RetentionStrategies. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 27 (3), 453-472.
Jones, F., Burke, R. J. & Westman, M. (2013). Work-Life Balance: A Psychological Perspective, Psychology Press.
Russo, M., Shteigman, A. & Carmeli, A. (2015). Workplace and Family Support and Work-Life Balance: Implications for Individual Psychological Availability and Energy at Work. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11 (2), 173-188.
Wepfer, A. G., Brauchli, R., Jenny, G. J., Hammig, O. & Bauer, G. F. (2015). The Experience of Work-Life Balance across Family-Life Stages in Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-based Study. BMC Public Health. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2584-6
