A PROJECT REPORT ON WORK LIFE BALANCE

Acknowledgement

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The wok life balance employee survey conducted found high levels of employee satisfaction and a significant increase in the availability of most flexible working arrangements. In all 87% of employees said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the current working arrangements. Almost all employees reported that at least one flexible working arrangement is available to them. The working arrangements most commonly available are part time working, reduced hours for a limited period and flexi time. The

arrangements most commonly taken up by employees are flexi time, working from home and part time work.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of the study are to Establish the extent to which employees perceive the provision of work life balance practices as inclusive. Ascertain the demand for work life balance practices Asses take up of work life balance practices including reasons for non taken (impact on job security and promotion) Ascertain the employees views on the detrimental effects of flexible working Establish the extent to which work life balance practices meet their needs, including their views on the feasibility of their employer extending these arrangements Establish how and to what extent employees are informed of and are involved in the development and implementation of the various work life balance arrangements; including whether there are procedures in place for taking their views in to account. Ascertain employees views on the impact of work life balance practices, including the impact on employee commitment and the employment relations climates.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Methodology is to teach and to save knowledge from fossilization, such a step helps not only in the growth of the subject but also in facilitating solutions of burning problems.

As an independent discipline, it helps solution of immediate problems of business also. It is however, necessary to evolve and shape methodical tools, designs and techniques to improve quality.

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH METHOD

We will conduct our research in order to collect primary data and reach the objective of dissertation. We will also be discussing which different types of method that are used. Since our research is of descriptive character our primary intention was to collect secondary data and analyze it. By doing so we found the factors price, trust and convenience. We then collected primary data through a survey. The main purpose of the survey is to collect data about the behavior of the employees and the significance of the established factors. For primary data basis, I have collected information upon sample basis, interview and personal survey by visiting various shops. For collection of these data I have prepared a questionnaire which is up to date in my knowledge. The questionnaire has been filled up by various employees from different service sector. The study was carried out at various organizations in Bhubaneswar. The survey includes both observational study and direct semistructure interviews.

RESEARCH DESIGN
A research design is the determination and statement of the general research approach or strategy adopted for the particular project. After formulating the research problem and hypothesis, the research design was involved. This design had to suit the requirements of the present study, had to explore and also describe and diagnose the problems of the study.

RESEARCH TOOLS

For the collection of information a questionnaire is designed which is structured and non-disguised type and is administered as per schedule. It includes many open ended as well as close-ended questions. The type of research is both exploratory as well as Descriptive. We take different factors by studying the existing modules of attitudes of the employees in various organizations that play an important role in purchasing energy meters and choosing the energy billing pattern and then proposed a model leading to energy meter purchasing and choosing the billing pattern. This model is then tested in my research by pie charts and also by the mode of analysis in SPSS.

FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

How many hours in a day do you normally work? Frequency 8-9 hours 27 9-10 hours 14 10-12 hours 17 More than 12 hours 42 Total 100 Percent 27.0 14.0 17.0 42.0 100.0 Valid Percent 27.0 14.0 17.0 42.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 27.0 41.0 58.0 100.0

Valid

How many hours in a day do you normally work?

More than 12 hours

8-9 hours

9-10 hours

10-12 hours

ANALYSIS: -Majority of participitants working in software industries work more than 12 hrs in a day, while in private banks and in manufacturing industries work in betwwen10-12 hrs in a day. While the Govt. employees work 8-10 hrs in a day.

Do you generally feel you are able to balance your work life? Frequency 46 54 100 Percent 46.0 54.0 100.0 Valid Percent 46.0 54.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 46.0 100.0

Valid

yes no Total

26% feels that the flexi hours will yield the same.a separate policy for work life balance. s are indifferent to it. Do you generally feel you are able to balance your work life?

yes

no

ANALYSIS: - The figure clearly indicates that the majority of the participitants feel that they are unable to balance the

Statistics Do any of the following hinder you in balancing your work and family commitment s? 100 0

Valid Missing

How many hours in a day do you spend with your child/childre n? 70 30

How do you feel about the amount of time you spend at work? 100 0

Do you ever feel tired or depressed because of work? 100 0

Do you suffer from any stress-related disease? 100 0

How do you feel about the amount of time you spend at work? Frequency Very unhappy 12 Unhappy 31 Indifferent 17 Happy 35 Very happy 5 Total 100 Percent 12.0 31.0 17.0 35.0 5.0 100.0 Valid Percent 12.0 31.0 17.0 35.0 5.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 12.0 43.0 60.0 95.0 100.0

Valid

How do you feel about the amount of time you spend at work?
Very happy

Very unhappy

Happy Unhappy

Indifferent

ANALYSIS: - The figure indicates almost a balance comparison between the employees who feel very unhappy, unhappy to who feel very happy, happy. While 17 % employees are indifferent to it.

Do you ever feel tired or depressed because of work? Frequency 13 46 29 12 100 Percent 13.0 46.0 29.0 12.0 100.0 Valid Percent 13.0 46.0 29.0 12.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 13.0 59.0 88.0 100.0

Valid

Rarely Sometimes Often Always Total

Do you ever feel tired or depressed because of work?

Always

Rarely

Often

Sometimes

ANALYSIS: - The survey indicates that only small percentage i.e. 13% of the respondents is not feeling tired or depressed because of work. While the majority are feeling the opposite.

Do any of the following hinder you in balancing your work and family commitments? Frequency Valid Negative attitude of peers and colleagues at work place Negative attitude of supervisors Total 24 76 100 Percent 24.0 76.0 100.0 Valid Percent 24.0 76.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 24.0 100.0

Does your company have a separate policy for work-life balance? Frequency 21 50 29 100 Percent 21.0 50.0 29.0 100.0 Valid Percent 21.0 50.0 29.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 21.0 71.0 100.0

Valid

Yes No Not aware Total

Does your company have a separate policy for work-life balance?

Not aware

Yes

No

ANALYSIS: - The study indicates that almost 79% employees are either not aware or they feel that their companies are not having a separate policy for work life balance. Only 21% employees feel that their companies are having a separate policy. So the companies have to look into this more deeply to increase its productivity by enhancing the efficiency of the employees.

Do you personally feel any of the following will help you to balance your work life? Frequency Flexible hours, in general 26 holidays/paid time offs 58 Job sharing 16 Total 100 Percent 26.0 58.0 16.0 100.0 Valid Percent 26.0 58.0 16.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 26.0 84.0 100.0

Valid

ANALYSIS: - It is very interesting to note that majority i.e. 58% of the employees feel that holidays/paid time offs will help to balance the work life while 26% feels that the flexi hours will yield the same. So the organizations should implement better options to enhance the productivity of the employees.

Do any of the following hinder you in balancing your work and family commitments? Frequency 53 1 8 27 11 100 Percent 53.0 1.0 8.0 27.0 11.0 100.0 Valid Percent 53.0 1.0 8.0 27.0 11.0 100.0 Cumulative Percent 53.0 54.0 62.0 89.0 100.0

Valid

Long working hours Compulsory overtime Shift work meetings/training after office hours Others, specify___________ ______ Total

10

Do any of the following hinder you in balancing your work and family commitments?
Others, specify_____

meetings/training af Long working hours

Shift work Compulsory overtime

Majorities of the participitants i.e. 53% feel that long working hours hinder them in balancing their work and family commitments. Basically they belong to the software industries and private banks. 27% participitants feel that meetings and trainings after the office hours are the cause and the executives of the govt. enterprises.
ANALYSIS: -

Do you think that if employees have good work-life balance the organization will be more effective and successf

yes

11

ANALYSIS:- As obvious all the participitants in different to the diversed organizations feel that employees should have good work life balance to make their personal life beautiful and it also helps in enhancing the efficiency of the employees resulting in their organization successful.

LIMITATIONS
Limitation of the study is the selection of the existing studies. All research reports should outline the major limitations. This is where I have to explain methodological and analytical weaknesses that affect the quality of the findings Owing to time limitation I only searched a few number of journals. This may leave some other prominent empirical studies out. The questionnaires prepared for the research work basically close ended questionnaires so the participants had limited options to express their own feelings regarding the subjects. The study would have been much better if the questionnaires are both close ended and open ended. Since it is a pilot study conducted with limited sample size so it would not be appropriate to generalize the findings to a wider population especially the cultural and social diversity in India. The study is time bound because the employees have to be distributed from their work and prior appointments have to be taken. The study is restricted only from june-july and hence the expectations and perceptions of employees could change in future. The findings of the study may not be applicable to any other organization as the study is carried out at GRIDCO, Odisha. The findings and suggestions are only confined only to this organization.

12

CONCLUSION
Worklife balance is a broad concept which is closely related and derived from the research of job satisfaction. Within the research of Job Satisfaction, it is found that there are both intrinsic and extrinsic factors which affect perceptions of job satisfaction within individuals. Intrinsic factors referred to job characteristics specifically. However, the extrinsic factors referred to the social and cultural norms the individual holding the job operated by.

BIBILOGRAPHY:1. www.google.com 2. www.scribd.com

Work life balance questionnaire

1) Age: 2) Gender: Male/ Female 3) Designation: 4) Nature of Org: 5) How many days in a week do you normally work? a) Less than 5 days b) 5 days c) 6 days d) 7 days 6) How many hours in a day do you normally work?

13

a) 7-8 hours b) 8-9 hours c) 9-10 hours d) 10-12 hours e) More than 12 hours 7) How many hours a day do you spend traveling to work? a) Less than half an hour b) Nearly one hour c) Nearly two hours d) More than two hours 8) Do you generally feel you are able to balance your work life? a) Yes b) No 9) How often do you think or worry 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 10) Do you work in shifts? a) General shift/day shift b) Night shift c) Alternative 11) Are you married? a) Yes b) No If yes, is your partner employed? a) Yes b) No 12) Do you have children?

14

a) Yes, no. of children____________. b) No Being an employed man/woman who is helping you to take care of your children? a) Spouse b) In-laws c) Parents d) Servants e) Crche/day care centers How many hours in a day do you spend with your child/children? a) Less than 2 hours b) 2-3 hours c) 3-4 hours d) 4-5 hours e) More than 5 hours Do you regularly meet your child/childrens teachers to know how your child is progressing? a) Once in a week b) Once in two weeks c) Once in month d) Once in 6 months e) Once in a year. 13) Do you take care of? a) Older people b) Dependent adults c) Adults with disabilities d) Children with disabilities e) none If yes, how many hours do you spend with them? a) Less than 2 hours b) 2-3 hours c) 3-4 hours d) 4-5 hours e) More than 5 hours

15

14) How do you feel about the amount of time you spend at work? a) Very unhappy b) Unhappy c) Indifferent d) Happy e) Very happy 15) Do you ever miss out any quality time with your family or your friends because of pressure of work? a) Never b) Rarely c) Sometimes d) Often e) Always 16) Do you ever feel tired or depressed because of work? a) Never b) Rarely c) Sometimes d) Often e) Always 17) How do you manage stress arising from your work? a) Yoga b) Meditation c) Entertainment d) Dance e) Music f) Others, specify_________. 18) Does your company have a separate policy for work-life balance? a) Yes b) No c) Not aware If, yes what are the provisions under the policy? a) Flexible starting time b) Flexible ending time c) Flexible hours in general

16

d) Holidays/ paid time-off e) Job sharing f) Career break/sabbaticals g) Others, specify________ 19) Do you personally feel any of the following will help you to balance your work life? a) Flexible starting hours b) Flexible finishing time c) Flexible hours, in general d) holidays/paid time offs e) Job sharing f) Career break/sabbaticals g) time-off for family engagements/events h) Others, specify_________ 20) Does your organization provide you with following additional work provisions? a) Telephone for personal use b) Counseling services for employees c) Health programs d) Parenting or family support programs e) Exercise facilities f) Relocation facilities and choices g) Transportation h) Others, specify______________. 21) Does your organization encourage the involvement of your family members in work- achievement reward functions? a) Yes, specify the name of such program Annual Day________ b) No. 22) Does your organization have social functions at times suitable for families? a) Yes, specify the name of such programs____________ b) No. 23) Does your organization provide you with yearly Master health check up? a) Yes b) No

17

24) Do any of the following hinder you in balancing your work and family commitments? a) Long working hours b) Compulsory overtime c) Shift work d) meetings/training after office hours e) Others, specify_________________ 25) Do any of the following help you balance your work and family commitments? a) Working from home b) Technology like cell phones/laptops c) Being able to bring Children to work on occasions d) Support from colleagues at work e) Support from family members f) Others, specify___________. 26) Do any of the following hinder you in balancing your work and family commitments? a) Technology such as laptops/cell phones b) Frequently traveling away from home c) Negative attitude of peers and colleagues at work place d) Negative attitude of supervisors e) Negative attitude of family members c) Others, specify___________ a) Yes b) No 27) Do you suffer from any stress-related disease? a) Hypertension b) obesity c) diabetes d) frequent headaches e) none f) Others, specify______. 28) Do you take special initiatives to manage your diet? a) Yes b) No

18

What is your preference for food? a) Carrying homemade food b) dieting on vegetables and fruits c) Choosing less calorific food d) choosing organic food e) Food from the organizations cafeteria f) Spicy/Junk food g) others, specify__________. How often will you have refreshment drinks/snacks in a day? a) None b) Once c) Twice d) Thrice e) More than three times 29) Do you spend time for working out? a) Yes b) No If yes, how many hours? a) less than half an hour b) half an hour c) half an hour to one hour d) more than 1 hour Where do you usually prefer to do your workouts? a) In your organizations health centers b) Residence c) Nearby Gym d) Walking e) Others, specify_____________. 30) Do you think that if employees have good work-life balance the organization will be more effective and successful? a) Yes b) No Thank you very much for your time.

19

LIMITATIONS
Limitation of the study is the selection of the existing studies. All research reports should outline the major limitations. This is where I have to explain methodological and analytical weaknesses that affect the quality of the findings Owing to time limitation I only searched a few number of journals. This may leave some other prominent empirical studies out. The questionnaires prepared for the research work basically close ended questionnaires so the participants had limited options to express their own feelings regarding the subjects. The study would have been much better if the questionnaires are both close ended and open ended. Since it is a pilot study conducted with limited sample size so it would not be appropriate to generalize the findings to a wider population especially the cultural and social diversity in India. The study is time bound because the employees have to be distributed from their work and prior appointments have to be taken. The study is restricted only from April to July perceptions of employees could change in future. . The findings and suggestions are only confined only to NESCL (ntpc electricity supply co ltd) organization.

CONCLUSION
Worklife balance is a broad concept which is closely related and derived from the research of job satisfaction. Within the research of Job Satisfaction, it

20

is found that there are both intrinsic and extrinsic factors which affect perceptions of job satisfaction within individuals. Intrinsic factors referred to job characteristics specifically. However, the extrinsic factors referred to the social and cultural norms the individual holding the job operated by.

BIBILOGRAPHY:1. www.google.com 2. www.journalspshychology.com

21