International Study Day Paris - May 17, 2011

Numerous appeals for the greater consideration of context in management research have been made. Recently, an AMJ editorial urged scholars to go “beyond contextualization” and use “context theories to narrow the micro-macro gap in management research” (Bamberger, 2008).

In France, work-family and work-life issues are rapidly picking up. In the past five to ten years, employers, policy makers and scholars have been actively experimenting and learning about making work and life work, in a social and institutional context that is both unique and globalized. The most recent token of this interest is the recruitment by French business schools of several work-life scholars, adding to an already vibrant French community of scholars.

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The union approach to work-life flexibility has often been characterized as excessively rigid or disinterested, and there have been very few studies
that provide insight into the relationship between labor unions and worker access to flexible schedules.

Voluntary telecommuting is an increasingly prevalent flexible work practice, typically offered to assist employees with managing work–family demands. Most organizations with telecommuting policies rely on supervisor discretion regarding policy access and implementation in their department...

Choice needed as work-home boundaries blur

Updated Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:04am AEST

Research backs belief that work-home life boundaries are blurring (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photo)

Research has backed the widely-held belief that access to technology has blurred the boundaries between work and home life.

Professor Ellen Kossek from Michigan State University will present the findings at the University of South Australia.

They suggest people have different ways of coping with demands, with some enjoying the integration of home and work and others feeling overwhelmed.

Professor Kossek says flexibility in the workplace can make Australia more productive.

"What our research is showing is that organisations can be more effective if they can give more choice in how people manage their hours in a way that fits with their values and gives them control," she said.

"It might be more complicated for companies, but I think in the long run it'll help families and it'll help individuals.

"People want to manage work/life boundaries in different ways depending on their generation, their care giving demands. What's important is for organisations to give more choice and control in how people manage all they have to do in a given day."

Choice needed as work-home boundaries blur

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/14/2952872.htm