Caught in the middle : organizational impediments to middle managers' work life balance

Melissa A. Parris, Margaret H. (Margaret Heather) Vickers, Lesley M. Wilkes

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    26 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    As increased work demands and longer working hours become the reality for many employees, the concept of work-life balance has received increasing attention. This paper presents findings from an exploratory study of Australian middle managers, which investigated the impact of middle managersââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ daily organizational experiences on their lives both in and beyond the workplace. We focus on respondentsââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ reports of the difficulty in achieving work-life balance, specifically, the organizational impediments to creating balance. Three particular areas where these impediments were apparent are: the impact of new technologies; limits to autonomy and control in the middle management role; and difficulties in taking advantage of flexibility initiatives in the workplace. As middle managers are caught in the middle between work and personal life, there is a need for organizations to support middle managersââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ efforts to achieve work-life balance if the organizationââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s long-term goals are to be achieved.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages17
    JournalEmployee Responsibilities and Rights Journal
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Keywords

    • conduct of life
    • hours of labor, flexible
    • middle managers
    • self-management (psychology)
    • time management
    • work and family

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