Francis, V and Lingard, H (2002) The case for family-friendly work practices in the Australian construction industry. Construction Economics and Building, 2(1), pp. 28-36. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
Although significant changes at the social, demographic, technological and workforce levels have transformed the relationship between family and work, these changes have not been reflected in the employment practices of many construction companies. Many of the job and organisational factors found to be negatively associated with family functioning are pertinent to construction professionals. Staff are expected to work long hours in demanding roles and this, combined with job insecurity and frequent relocation, means that family life and individual well-being can be compromised. A growing body of research has found that the implementation of family-friendly work policies and practices can lead to greater productivity, lower attrition rates and higher morale in the workplace. In addition providing a work environment that is supportive of workers' family roles can help to alleviate work related mental health problems. This paper outlines the changing demographic trends and societal attitudes that are making individuals and organisations question current work cultures and structures. Options for making the construction industry a more family-friendly work environment are considered. All professionals, regardless of their age, gender and family responsibilities, can benefit from these initiatives. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these issues for construction companies and future research work.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | work-life balance |
| Index terms: | work-life balance, mental health, option, construction company, relocation, construction industry, morale, productivity, employment, implementation, work environment, organizational factor, well-being, construction professional, work practice |
| Subjects: | professional development, business, organization, mental health and wellbeing, management, leadership, industry analysis, contractual arrangements, health conditions and diseases, decision analysis, market analysis |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Procurement, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Information Management, Organizational Design, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here