How to integrate your work, home and self?

It is true that there is no substitute for hard work, especially for the Indian professionals who are beginning to make a mark in the global business world. But, striking a balance between work and personal life is equally imperative. After all, one cannot be expected to make a living at the expense the quality of life that all humans deserve.

Mid-career professionals need it more than ever

The fact that mid-pros need to fulfill certain commitments for spouse, children and aged parents, apart from their hectic work schedule, is hardly understood by many. In the late thirties or early forties, these middle career professionals do a juggling act between work and home.

The Delhi-based psychotherapist, Jasmeet Kaur, believes that mid-career professionals are most prone to having work-life imbalance. "Since they have already worked for some years, they begin to realise that they have only finite time while they have yet a lot to do and they have not reached the position they desire. This crisis often leads to a tendency to overwork to achieve things faster, and the work-life balance gets disturbed," she explains.

"One must not act while she or he is facing this anxiety. Being led by the feelings can be disastrous. One must take time to understand the feelings and realise that it is natural to have those feelings," advises Kaur.

The fact that mid-pros need to fulfill certain commitments for spouse, children and aged parents, apart from their hectic work schedule, is hardly understood by many. In the late thirties or early forties, these middle career professionals do a juggling act between work and home.

The work-life balance is also essential for the professional growth of a person, she adds. Research has found that a healthy balance increases the individual's professional productivity due to a sense of greater self-confidence, it helps in the ability to communicate effectively, and it boosts morale - which ultimately helps the organisation as well.

Employees at the Receiving End

In a recent research conducted by the Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) on job satisfaction levels, a majority of senior employees in both private and public sectors complained of high tension, heavy workloads and long working hours. Besides, around 85 per cent of respondents in BPOs and call centres, engineering and construction companies, stock markets, textile and garment manufacturing units, export houses, retail malls and multiplexes, hotels and transport companies said they were dissatisfied with their jobs mainly due to work-life balance issues. Most of them work for more than 60 hours a week, as compared to the 40-48 hour norm in Europe and the U.S., noted the research.

Rise of the Indian Economy

The need for work-life balance is a post 1995 phenomenon. Opening up of the Indian markets, globalisation and competition has resulted in changing dynamics at the workplace. Along with a hectic work schedule are hitherto unknown salaries and perks, but after a few years of the hard grind, middle level employees want a slowdown in pressure. Burnouts, stress-related issues, behavioural problems, absenteeism have all come to the fore.

Advancements in technology have added to the woes making it easy for people to bring homework. In IT and ITES, it's been found that it's not possible to draw strict boundaries between work and home. Mobile phones, PDAs and internet help superiors keep connected to employees.

Organisations have woken up to this and have ushered in policies and programs. But, it's not always followed in letter and spirit. Many multi-national companies (MNCs) and large Indian companies, such as HP, Mindtree, Wipro, Infosys, and IBM, have telecommuting policies, but they are for specific roles and are left to the managers to approve.

Ritu Anand, Vice-President and Deputy Head of Global HR, TCS, says: "The knowledge industry is characterised by a very young and dynamic workforce. The new breed of IT professionals aspires for a work environment that is holistic, balanced and complete. A flexible work environment and work-life balance are key drivers of employee satisfaction."

Anand goes on to say that at TCS, they strive to make work a joyful experience and encourage work-life balance through "Maitree", a unique platform for all employee engagement activities.

The knowledge industry is characterised by a very young and dynamic workforce. The new breed of IT professionals aspires for a work environment that is holistic, balanced and complete. A flexible work environment and work-life balance are key drivers of employee satisfaction.

- Ritu Anand, Vice President and Deputy Head of Global HR, TCS

"TCS offers a flexible work environment where employees are given the option to work part-time or work from home under special circumstances. We offer adoption leave to the parent irrespective of the gender. If some of our female associates choose to discontinue work for a temporary period of time due to family commitments and rejoin the organisation at a later stage, continuity of service is considered. Employees also have the option to go for sabbaticals," she adds.

Individuals do benefit from corporate policies

Many organisations, especially in the IT industry, have introduced several work-life balance policies. For instance, the employees can now choose flexible working hours and number of days for work or opt for a part-time assignment. They can even avail a job-sharing arrangement to divide the workload or work from home by way of telecommuting.

In fact, it is India's IT industry that is believed to have pioneered work-life balance policies to increase their employees' productivity and retain them. For instance, NIIT introduced special allowances for dating and engagement besides other people-friendly measures several years ago.

Biswabijoy Sen, Associate Consultant with TCS, says that the "Maitree" has greatly helped him to balance work and life. Sen, the lead singer of TCS band "Kollage", recalls that the six-member band had been given a place for practise after the office hours, and all the equipment was bought by the company. "We also released an album, 'June', which was greatly appreciated by TCSers. What was really encouraging is that our CEO took a personal interest in the making of the album," he says.

Women Bear the Brunt

"The entry of a large percentage of women into the workforce is adding to the complexity," says Ganesh Chella, founding CEO of Totus Consulting and co-founder of Coaching Foundation of India.

The entry of a large percentage of women into the workforce is adding to the complexity. Ganesh Chella, CEO of Totus Consulting

In a largely male-dominated society like India's, women are made to shoulder all the major responsibilities of the household, be it buying groceries or raising kids. This is generally true even when the woman of the house has a career. Not that this attitude is not changing, but its pace is far slower than needed given that the number of women choosing to have a career is growing by the day. For instance, about 20 percent of the employees in Motorola India are women.

"For women, the problems are a lot more serious and so they opt out," adds Chella. The Maternity Benefit Act of 1961 demands that all women workers be given a three-month paid maternity leave. Unfortunately, almost all pregnant working women choose to work till very close to the delivery date so that they can utilise the leave to look after their babies. But is it easy for nursing mothers to leave the baby home after three months? And it is not easy even to go back to work with a feeling of guilt for leaving their babies with maids or old grand parents. Besides, there is no legal provision for paternity leave, and therefore husbands can be of little help.

"Here is where it is in the interest of organisations to do something to 'tap into this talent pool' that will otherwise go unutilised," says Ganesh Chella, founding CEO of Totus Consulting and co-founder of Coaching Foundation of India.

Need of the Hour

Peter Ellwood, chairman of a unique U.K.-based advocacy group, Employers for Work-Life Balance, believes that work-life balance is more crucial at this point in time than ever before. "Demographic and societal changes, globalisation and advances in technology are forcing business to transform the way they operate. Work-life balance strategies are a valuable tool in this transformation. They offer a win-win situation, engaging employees on the basis that there is 'something in it for them' too, and humanising the process of change," he says.

Case for Balance in India

The industry in the U.K., and elsewhere in the West, is far ahead in this area than its counterparts in developing economies like India's. Even government legislations in many Western countries make it mandatory for business establishments to provide work-life balance to their employees. Yet, there exist groups such as the Employers for Work-Life Balance in the U.K. and the Centre for Work-Life Policy in the U.S. Having said this, how much more India Inc. needs to do in this area is not difficult to imagine.

India makes a stronger case for work-life balance given that the boom in her economy is a more recent phenomenon which puts the workforce in greater stress than in developed nations. What's more, India is a service destination for numerous global business firms due to the availability of cheaper labour, many of who are required to work in night shifts.

Most Indian professionals find it difficult to cope with the stress levels. Says Rathore, "Increasing work pressures and the rising need to travel for work are potential contributors to a new, mounting stress placed on corporate executives like me. Gone are the days when executives were concerned only about the bottom line and market share."

Increasing work pressures and the rising need to travel for work are potential contributors to a new, mounting stress placed on corporate executives like me. Gone are the days when executives were concerned only about the bottom line and market share.
- Ratna Rathore, a senior bank executive

Is the Industry Response Good Enough

Are Indian firms helping their employees balance work and life? Independent HR experts think otherwise.

"Indian organisations are not really doing much and are not likely to," says Ganesh Chella, adding "this is not a priority at all. You can see that many IT (information technology) companies are looking at a six-day week to bill additional revenue." Although the issue of flexibility and balance, Chella points out, is serious, "we are nowhere near the level of economic stability to be able to take it easy". "Also the gold rush is hardly the time to take it easy for Indians."

What adds to the problem, Chella thinks, is the opportunity which is time advantage based. "Technology has also invaded our lives." Although cell phones, palm tops and e-mails are a blessing, the flip side is that they keep one connected 24 hours a day and thereby put pressure on them to pay incessant attention to work.

Who needs to take the initiative?

As regards finding the time for family and social life, Sen thinks it depends on how each individual manages her or his time. "If one finishes the work within the office hours, there will always be time for other engagements," says Sen, who has been working with TCS for more than 10 years.

Bank executive Rathore says employees need to realise that they need to balance work and life for both success at the workplace and a fulfilled life. "Organisations can only facilitate, but the initiative should be taken by the employee."

Rathore says she is now learning to attain a better work-life balance by utilising mobility and technology in her daily work schedules. "Technology like Blackberry increases professional agility by allowing the freedom to work anytime and from anywhere," she says.

Many organisations today have implemented intranets, virtual private networks and other knowledge management systems, she says, adding that these technologies must be used by employees to stay in touch even if it means they have to work from home for non-work related purposes such as tending to a sick child or parents.

Need for Balance

Says Jasmeet Kaur, a psychotherapist and trainer-consultant in personal growth, "Human beings don't have just one drive, but many drives and needs. And to have a sense of wellbeing, these needs need to be met adequately. Work is very important as it gives a lot of meaning in life, but life is bigger than work. When our lives are only about work, the ability to meet other needs goes very low which results in frustration."

Kaur explains that when human beings get older, they have a sense of some control and mastery over their environment, as they maintain some boundaries and a structure - that they have set apart time for various things in their lives. "But once a person allows the need for work to be met at the expense of other needs, the sense of wellbeing and confidence goes away."

Human beings don't have just one drive, but many drives and needs. And to have a sense of wellbeing, these needs need to be met adequately. Work is very important as it gives a lot of meaning in life, but life is bigger than work. When our lives are only about work, the ability to meet other needs goes very low which results in frustration.
- Delhi-based psychotherapist, Jasmeet Kaur

Kaur goes on to say that if the work-life balance is not maintained, a person can begin to experience a sense of emptiness and hollowness which is difficult to deal with. In addition, relationships suffer and the person begins to experience loneliness, depression, despair and cynicism.

A result of work-life imbalance can be seen in a survey on career couples by TeamLease in February 2008. It showed that 54 percent of the respondents felt they were merely "weekend parents". In addition, 34 percent of the working couples surveyed felt that since there were two careers the chances of a divorce were high. Moreover, most participants agreed that working in odd shift hours had a bearing on their marital relationships.

Recommended Policies

There are many measures that companies can take to ensure work-life balance, such as employee benefits like child care facilities, video conferencing to reduce travel, not scheduling work events during school holidays and so on.

A result of work-life imbalance can be seen in a survey on career couples by TeamLease in February 2008. It showed that 54 percent of the respondents felt they were merely "weekend parents". In addition, 34 percent of the working couples surveyed felt that since there were two careers the chances of a divorce were high.

In her article "When It's Work...And Not Life: Work-Life Balance: A Critique," Melissa Arulappan of the Employers and Work-Life Balance recommends some key measures organisations can take "to respect their employees". These include identifying the key need or reason for introducing work-life balance policies, building the commitment to it into the organisation's vision statement, setting up a special task force, examining current practices, holding joint discussions with employees to evolve policies - while also identifying possible barriers, communicating policies through handbooks, newsletters, Intranet and so on, holding workshops to help managers implement and manage policies, monitoring implementation and putting feedback systems into place.