Building a case for research in work family linkages: perspectives from academic and popular research

Abstract

Demographic and technological changes are reshaping the workplace, changing where people work and how they work. The corporate landscape is changing to accommodate new work and life styles among their employees. In the process the boundaries between work and home are blurring, leading to new challenges for both individuals and organizations. The objective of the paper is therefore to argue for having more studies in this area given the subject’s growing importance and the associated dearth of research in the area. In the process, this paper focuses on the factors that have precipitated the work family link dynamics. It looks at findings from research on the consequences of work family linkage on the individual and the organization. In addition to academic research, the paper also draws from similarities in the findings from practitioner oriented research that posit the felt need of work family harmony for individuals and organizations. Finally, the paper discusses the contextual relevance for work family and in doing so points out the paucity in work family research in the Indian context. The paper reiterates its goal by pointing out a gap in research that may be addressed by future studies to surmount the challenge of increasing work family linkages and its imports. The overarching purpose of this review is not to be exhaustive, but to necessarily survey the research adequately in order to provide an informed overview.