Work-Life Balance : To explore the factors contributing to the adoption of Worklife balance initiatives and the perceived benefits to older workers in an Irish manufacturing organisation.

McDonnell, Edmond D. (2013) Work-Life Balance : To explore the factors contributing to the adoption of Worklife balance initiatives and the perceived benefits to older workers in an Irish manufacturing organisation. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

There are not many studies on the areas of work-life balance and older workers together.

This study aims to explore the factors contributing to the adoption of work-life balance initiatives and their perceived benefits to older workers.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees and HR/Operations managers to investigate the extent and relative influence of external, internal and individual factors on the adoption of work-life balance initiatives. They were also use to assess the extent of awareness and appreciation of work-life balance initiatives amongst older workers in an Irish manufacturing organisation. A survey was conducted with HR professionals to assess their extent of awareness and appreciation of work-life balance initiatives and to establish the benefits and barriers to older workers and identify the types of work-life balance initiatives availed of by them.

A medium to large Irish manufacturing organisation with locations in Limerick and Drogheda.

Three employees and two HR Managers and one Operations Manager, working within the manufacturing organisation. HR professionals were randomly selected through personal contacts within the HR industry.

A discourse analysis was conducted on the qualitative data from the six interviews.

Three themes were identified as ‘sub-factors’ relating to the overall factors that contribute to the adoption of work-life balance initiatives, which were, culture/commitment, relationships and communication. Survey analysis revealed that 74% of HR professionals have informal work-life balance initiatives and 87% of respondents have no work-life balance initiatives particularly for older workers.

The findings suggest that the themes identified through the interviews are essential in the approval or granting of work-life balance in a manufacturing organisation. Also that significant effort should be put into promotion and awareness of the benefits of older workers.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Specific Industries > Manufacturing Industry H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Older Workers H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	22 Nov 2013 09:24
Last Modified:	22 Nov 2013 09:25
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/853

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