Lecture on ‘Work-Life Balance: Rhetoric versus Reality’

Hosted by Carleton’s Women in Science & Engineering Network, Linda Duxbury, from the Sprott School of Business will be talking on Work-Life Balance: Rhetoric versus Reality.

This talk draws on Dr. Duxbury’s extensive research in the area of work-life balance, supportive managers, supportive work environments and managing change.  It begins by  providing evidence that work-life balance and stress have increased over the past 20 years while employee well being has declined. The talk then turns to an examination of why such changes have occurred.  The following factors are considered: demographic changes in the workforce, lack of action on the part of employers, increased workloads, office technology,  and organizational culture.   The next section of the talk answers the question: “why do organizations need to make it easier for employees to balance work and life?”  Key reasons discussed include impending labour shortages, the need to recruit and retain employees, and the costs of inaction.  This is followed by the identification of specific  recommendations on how companies can increase balance.  The talk concludes with a discussion of what employees can do themselves to increase their sense of control over the work-life boundary.