Work-life balance self-management strategies

This paper will draw on both completed (McDowall & Lindsay, submitted) and current research focused on individual self management strategies for managing work-life balance. In many organisations, work-life balance activities at the organisational level has been ‘put on the back burner’ as budgets and workforces are diminished. Thus, the focus has shifted onto individuals to deal with increasing demands and manage the work-home interface. This paper also takes a competency focused approach, eliciting the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to self-manage the work-home interface, also including cognitive strategies, how people think and frame the work-home interface. We have collected data from two studies, one organisation specific, and one using a heterogenous sample, eliciting clear frameworks, showing that self management skills such as communication, managing time, and communication are crucial, and that line managers need specific skills to manage the work-home interface for employees