In this paper, we examine the attitudes toward integrating work and family in a sample of 247 teachers in Switzerland and Israel. More particularly, we focus on the national context’s role in mediating the relations between professional and private spheres. The data were collected by a questionnaire implemented and administered in the two countries. The analysis reveals differences between Israeli and Swiss teachers regarding the importance of attribution to life roles and their attitudes toward conflict and facilitation. Findings suggest new insights into the consideration of cultural elements in shaping the teachers’ attitudes toward the integration of family and work.

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Work-family conflict and facilitation among teachers in Israel and Switzerland

An exploratory study of work life balance among banking and insurance sector employees

This chapter explores the role of culture in the work-life balance management of married female Ghanaian employees in the formal sector, through the lens of the institutional theory. The qualitative research approach was adopted with interpretivist and phenomenology being the approaches used. A thematic textual analysis was done based on in-depth interviews with fifteen (15) respondents. The study reveals that married female employees in Ghana experienced role conflicts that were culturally embedded. This creates the need for work-life balance, which is challenging to achieve considering the availability of limited flexible working schedules, coupled with the non-adherence to Ghanaian labour laws. Married females in the study context, however, rely on family/spousal support, hiring the services of house-helps, and effective planning as ways of work-life balance management. To the best of the knowledge of the researcher, this is the first known study that explores culture and work-life balance of females in Ghana.

The Role of Culture in the Work-Life Border Management: An Insight from Ghanaian Married Female Workers in the Formal Sector

An integral part of our lives is our profession. Just as there is responsibility and opportunity in life, our careers are also guided by opportunities and responsibilities. We must ensure that these two factors don't work at cross purposes. Quality of life is something we all covet. Having said this, every profession affects life in general and every profession has a duty towards life. Times have changed. From the time the husband earned, and the wife stayed at home. To the time now when the husband earns and the wife earns too. But the wife still cooks and washes and runs the house. So, how does she balance her work with life at home? Why Work Life Balance is Important to Women? Today's career women are continually challenged by the demands of full-time work and when the day is done at the office, they carry more of the responsibilities and commitments to home. The majority of women are working 40-45 hours per week and 53% are struggling to achieve work/life balance. Women reported that their lives were a juggling act that included multiple responsibilities at work, heavy meeting schedules, business trips, on top of managing the daily routine responsibilities of life and home. "Successfully achieving work/life balance will ultimately create a more satisfied workforce that contributes to productivity and success in the workplace. This paper would highlight the various values, attitudes & beliefs of women regarding job anxiety in their formal work organizations & particularly balancing their work & personal life

A Review of Quality of Work Life Balance for Women Employees (A case study of working women in academics)

This study investigates the extent to which female teachers in Ghana are able to balance their careers and social roles, while acting as role models in career progression. Work-life balance (WLB) is a phenomenon gaining much interest in educational administration and management in Ghana. The Ghana Education Service (GES) employs a significant number of female teachers, yet evidence shows practical policy issues when it comes to WLB. Study respondents indicated their perceptions of significant sociocultural challenges in trying to balance domestic roles and teaching. Some support systems were identified, but they were not found to have a significant effect on female teachers’ resilience and determination to consolidate their career in GES. The results have several implications for GES policy direction, practices for performance, and recommendations for scaling up WLB research in Ghana.

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Rita Oteng

Papers

Attaining Work-Life Balance as in Modeling the Way among Female Teachers in Ghana