Integrating Work and Family

Despite calls for a renewal of family values and the proliferation of corporate work-family programs, the goal of achieving a healthy balance between the demands of work and a satisfying family life remains elusive. Dr. Parasuraman, Dr. Greenhaus, and the contributors to this well-balanced and thoughtful volume examine this increasingly prevalent social dilemma from a stakeholder perspective. They see work-family tensions as a multifaceted social issue, and they examine the nature and consequences of these tensions from the viewpoints of individuals, employers, consultants, counseling professionals, and other service providers. Their inclusion of legal, cultural, international, and research perspectives and recognition of the unique concerns of vulnerable groups, such as nonexempt employees and ethnic minorities, add to the breadth of coverage. Academics in the social and behavioral sciences, executive decision-makers in government and business, human resource professionals, and employed men and women interested in achieving work-life balance will find this volume insightful, stimulating, and useful. The editors have arranged their book into five parts and 21 chapters. Part I provides a broad overview of the environmental factors impacting work and family. It then identifies the critical issues and challenges facing individuals, families, and employees in managing the complex interdependencies between work and family roles. In Part II they provide a view of the issues from the vantage point of specific stakeholders. Part III concentrates on the role of culture in shaping ideology, policies, and practices concerning work and family and the relationships among them. Part IV examines the impact of career development programs on employees and their families. It also discusses the effectiveness of alternative career tracks, various usages of work-family benefits by women and men, and the roles employers and employees can play in legitimizing alternative career paths. Part V concludes the book by examining the cultural barriers to achieving more effective integration of work and family, and by analyzing the appropriate role of key stakeholders in addressing work-family problems.

SAROJ PARASURAMAN is Professor of Management at Drexel University. Her research focuses on work-induced stress and its consequences, and on work-family relationships as they relate to dual-career couples. Dr. Parasuraman's research findings have been published in a wide range of important journals, and she is the author of several book chapters and numerous scholarly papers presented at national and international conferences. JEFFREY H. GREENHAUS is the William A. Mackie Professor of Commerce and Engineering and Professor of Management at Drexel University. Among his research interests are work-family relationships, career management, and the management of diversity. Dr. Greenhaus has published widely in the leading scholarly journals, and is the author or coauthor of several books. He has also served on the editorial boards of various academic journals.

Preface Tables and Figures Issues and Challenges in Managing Work-Family Linkages The Changing World of Work and Family by Saroj Parasuraman and Jeffrey H. Greenhaus A Panoramic View of Work-Family Concerns by Faith Wohl Looking at Work-Family Issues Through Different Lenses Toward a Comprehensive Work/Life Strategy by Perry M. Christensen The Work-Family Issue from a Consultant's Perspective by Tyler Phillips The Role of a Juggler by Susan Miller Managing Work-Family Tensions: A Counseling Perspective by Marianne O'Hare Work and Family: A Research Perspective by Marcia Brumit Kropf Services and Work-and-Family Life by Barbara A. Gutek Legal and Cultural Perspectives on Work-Family Relationships An International Perspective on Work-Family Issues by Suzan Lewis The Work-Family Interface in India by Meera Komarraju Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Implications for Work-Family Initiatives by Donna Klein A Legal Perspective on Work-Family Issues by Eileen Drake Work-Family Initiatives and Career Development: Problems and Promise Telecommuting as a Response to Helping People Balance Work-Family by Francine Riley and Donna Weaver McCloskey Family, Sex, and Career Advancement by Jeanne M. Brett Gaining Legitimacy for Flexible Arrangements and Career Paths: The Business Case for Public Accounting and Professional Service Firms by Monique Connor, Karen Hooks, and Terry McGuire The Sex Difference in Employee Inclinations Regarding Work-Family Programs: Why Does It Exist, Should We Care, and What Should Be Done About It (If Anything)? by Gary N. Powell Moving Ahead: New Directions for the Work-Family Agenda Visioning the Future by Ellen C. Bankert and Sharon A. Lobel Moving from Programs to Culture Change: The Next Stage for the Corporate Work-Family Agenda by Dana E. Friedman and Arlene A. Johnson The Impact of Corporate Culture on Work-Family Integration by Lotte Bailyn Shared Responsibility for Managing Work and Family Relationships by Bradley K. Googins The Integration of Work and Family Life: Barriers and Solutions by Jeffrey H. Greenhaus and Saroj Parasuraman Index About the Contributors