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2-2 Final Project
IDS 402
SNHU
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• Milestone One : Introduction
Wellness is considered to be the comprehensive well-being of an individual which
influences his or her quality of life. It has brought about a revolutionary change in the health
aspects of community members (Meiselman, 2016). In recent times, the concept of work-life
balance has also gained considerable attention. In the current corporate environment, it is said
to be at the central position of the corporate welfare of the employees (Gragnano et al.,
2020). While entering the labor market, most individuals strive to maintain proper work-life
balance so that they can effectively maintain their professional and personal life. Today, it is
considered to be a major wellness event that influences the quality of life of organizational
personnel. The issue relating to work-life balance has been examined by using the four
general education lenses, namely history, humanities, nature, and applied sciences, and social
sciences.
Lens Connections
History
The analysis of history is considered of paramount importance to get a detailed insight
into an issue and arrive at a suitable solution to address the same. While looking at work-life
balance through the history lens, baby boomers tend to adopt a competitive approach in their
work setting. According to Aydemir and Dinc (2016), baby boomers are the people who live
to work. They commit themselves to their organizations (Aydemir et al., 2016). It affects
their ability to allocate time to their personal life. For them, maintaining proper work-life
balance takes a back-seat which adversely affects their quality of life to a considerable extent.
Individuals belonging to Generation X are the children of baby boomers (Aydemir et al.,
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2016). They are considered to be people who work to live. Generation X and Generation Y
have a different perception of work-life balance as they lay high emphasis on their personal
spaces as well as recreational needs (Kohll, 2018).
Humanities
The humanities lens includes history, literature, modern literature, politics, religion,
and a diverse range of other areas. The lens is considered to be of paramount importance as
it helps individuals to think critically and rationally about different topics. It can help to
comprehend how individuals manage a healthy and good life. Researchers Rahim and
Arumugam have argued that the organizational climate that exists in the work setting has a
considerable impact on the work-life balance of professionals, their wellness, and well-being.
It also impacts the level of satisfaction that employees have in their life and the stress that
they go through on a day-to-day basis (Gragnano et al., 2020). The interaction between
human behavior and organizational climate shapes the ability of people to maintain work-life
balance and enhance their level of wellness at the family and professional levels. Researcher
Dhas (2015) has argued that work-life programs must be introduced so that professionals can
get the opportunity to fulfill their diverse commitments. It can serve as a critical tool that
can enhance employee morale, minimize their stress and improve their overall wellness (Dhas
& Karthikeyan, 2015).
Nature and Applied Sciences
The ‘nature and applied sciences’ lens makes use of the scientific methodology for
observing the natural setting via experimentation as well as observation. The outlook that is
attained with the use of the lens is considered to be extremely insightful as it helps to
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understand how the natural world shapes humans. The natural setting to which individuals
are exposed in the competitive professional setting has a direct implication on their health
aspects. For instance, exposure to a highly competitive organizational landscape deteriorates
the mental wellness of individuals by increasing the level of stress. Researchers Mensah and
Adjei have argued that the pressing demands of work act as a major constraint on the social
as well as family life of diverse working individuals (Mensah & Adjei, 2020). Moreover, the
inability to strike a balance between the work and personal life adversely affects their quality
of life such as poor mental health, psychological distress, etc. (Mensah & Adjei, 2020).
Social Sciences
The social science discipline analyzes the association between individuals and
societies. The poor level of work-life balance hampers the quality of life of individuals.
According to Jain and Gautam (2018), work-life balance serves as a catalyst that influences
the well-being of professionals (Gautam & Jain, 2018). The competing demand of work and
family could lead to conflicting situations and adversely impact how people lead their lives.
An improved work-life balance is considered to be a necessity to help people lead content
and satisfying life.
• Milestone 2 :Analyzing through the Lenses of History and the Humanities
The history lens has been used to critically evaluate the work-life balance issue by
laying emphasis on past experiences. The kind of work-life experience that people from
previous generations have had has been thoroughly researched. The impact of the issue on
the wellness of individuals as well as other social issues has been identified and critically
explored.
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Interaction of Work-life balance with history lens and impact on social issues
The concept of work-life balance is nothing new. The topic is considered to arouse
the interest of individuals irrespective of the generation or age group to which they belong.
However, the concept has undergone a significant degree of change in recent times.
According to Researcher Gonzalez-Lopez, the work-life balance topic gained considerable
attention during the 80s. It was the period during which people started to become aware of
the work-life conflict as well as it’s interlink with stress and burnout of employees. e Due to
the considerable attention that the issue generated, organizations started to take initiatives and
measures so that the issues relating to work-life balance could be addressed in an effective
and efficient manner. During the 90s, most of the work-life balance initiatives typically
involved the introduction of family-friendly policies in organizational settings (Sánchez-
Hernández et al., 2019).
The definition of work-life balance varies from one generation to another. For
instance, for Baby Boomers, it was mainly associated with stability as well as security at
work. On the other hand, for individuals belonging to Generation X, work-life balance is
about work relations (Sánchez-Hernández et al., 2019). Researcher Smith has pointed out in
his study that in the past, work-life balance was typically considered to be a women’s issue.
However, with the passage of time, the issue has been identified to be of high relevance for
each and every individual. Working men belong to Generation X, and Generation Y have
also understood that work-life balance impacts them as well as their quality of life (Smith et
al., 2016). Since the implication of work-life balance is considered to be diverse, it has a
considerable impact on other social issues as well. Researcher Dhas (2015) has claimed in
his study that the lack of work-life balance could diminish the morale and satisfaction level
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of the employees and thus encourage them to quit their jobs. Thus, it has the potential to
give rise to serious social issues such as instability in the labor market, increase in
unemployment, etc. (Dhas & Karthikeyan, 2015).
Deeper insight into the issue
The history lens has helped to understand that work-life balance is a serious topic.
Work-life balance is considered to be a serious issue that has the potential to give rise to
other kinds of complexities and complications in the lives of the affected individuals. Singh
has argued that the lack of proper work-life balance could give rise to social imbalances in
the form of the aging population, delayed parenting of working professionals, a decline in
the labor supply, and a decline in fertility rate (Singh, 2019). The examination of the issue
through the history lens has revealed that poor work-life balance could serve as a catalyst
and impact the wellness and quality of life of individuals in varying ways.
Humanities Lens Analysis of Work-life balance
The work-life balance issue has been critically examined through the humanities lens.
Such an evaluation has helped to understand how the variables such as human behavior and
interactions might come into play and influence the lives of people and their relationships
with others. The creative portrayal of the work-life balance problem in society has been
explored, and the underlying message has been captured.
Creative portrayal of the Work-life balance issue in the society
Both personal, as well as professional lives of a person play an integral role in
shaping the kind of life that he leads and the associations that he develops with others.
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Researcher Simbula has argued that in both work and family setting, people develop
relationships that help them to function and carry out their respective roles (Gragnano et al.,
2020). The ability to strike a balance between work and personal life is vital as it has the
potential to influence an individual’s ability to interact and engage with others. For example,
the work-life imbalance could affect the relationship a man has with his wife or children.
Similarly, it could also take a toll on his health and affect his behavior in the work setting.
According to Tavassoli & Sunyer (2020), the impact of the lack of work-life balance is not
restricted to the professional setting of a person. The effect spills over to his entire life. For
example, it could lead to diminished job satisfaction, high levels of burnout, and conflicting
scenarios in the family setting (Tavassoli & Sunyer, 2020). The researchers have identified
in the study that a poor level of work-life balance could negatively affect the emotions of a
person and further hamper their ability to interact with their surroundings. Warren has
identified in his study that the concept of gig work is on the rise in the 21st century as it
promotes work-life balance. It offers the kind of flexibility, autonomy, and growth that the
professionals of the current times intend to have in order to balance their personal as well as
professional lives (Warren, 2021).
Interaction of the representation with personal and professional life
The evaluation of the work-life balance issue through the humanities lens gives an
insight into the broad scope of the subject matter. The lack of proper work-life balance has
the potential to impact an individual in diverse ways. For example, it could lead to poor job
satisfaction and a low level of morale in the work setting. Additionally, it could also give
rise to serious health-related issues such as stress and burnout. Furthermore, the inability to
deal with the consequences of work-life imbalance could give rise to human behavior
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complexities and challenges to establish meaningful relationships with others. In my personal
as well as professional life, the representation of work-life balance issues has a direct impact.
It could influence my satisfaction in the work setting, the relationships that I establish with
my colleagues, and the time that I spend with my family members.
• Milestone 4 : Analyzing through the Lenses of the Natural and Applied Sciences
In recent times, the work-life balance concept has gained a lot of popularity among
people. As a matter of fact, work-life balance is often seen as a major issue that people want
to resolve. Work-life balance refers to the creation of a healthy and supportive work
environment that enables individuals to maintain a balance between work and their personal
responsibilities (Dhas, 2015). e In this paper, the issue will be analyzed using the natural and
applied sciences and social sciences lens.
Analysis of the issue through natural and applied sciences lens
The natural and applied sciences lens focuses on the basic science and scientific
processes for evaluating a given situation. On analysis of the issue of work-life balance
through this lens, it has been found that poor work-life balance can have a significant impact
on the psychological well-being of individuals. The lack of appropriate balance between
professional life and personal life often leads to stress among individuals. Job stress refers to
the harmful emotional and physical response when the job requirements do not match the
needs or capabilities of the employees (Harnois & Gabriel, 2000). Some of the main causes
of stress at work include unrealistic deadlines, overwork, poor working conditions, job
insecurity, and lack of decision making. Stress can have a negative impact on the physical as
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well as mental well-being of people. It often results in mental health issues such as
depression, psychological distress, and increases the chances of suicide. In the recent times,
the corporate world is becoming exceedingly demanding. The professionals have to meet
tight deadlines while ensuring the delivery of high quality work (John et al., 2020). It makes
it difficult for individuals to strike a balance between their personal and professional life. In
hectic work schedules, the professionals even do not get sufficient time to focus on the needs
of their physical body and mind. Such an imbalance in the lives of the working professionals
deprives them of peace and harmony in their lives. Lack of work-life balance may be
profitable for professional life but has a significant impact on the health and well-being of
the individuals.
Anxiety and depression are common health problems suffered by individuals due to the issue
of work-life balance (Schmitt et al., 2008). Working for long hours without sufficient rest
to the body often increases the risk of anxiety and depression. Moreover, deprivation of
quality sleep due to tight work schedules is another reason for anxiety and depression issues
among working professionals. The physical body and mind function in a specific pattern and
require adequate sleep or rest. When the regular pattern is disturbed, it can have a direct
impact on the health of the individuals. Sleep deprivation, anxiety, as well as stress, can also
lead to a number of cardiovascular health problems. It can result in coronary heart disease,
thereby increasing the chances of heart stroke.
Understanding the concept of work-life balance through the natural and applied
science lens can help in resolving the issue. It helps in shedding light on the negative
consequences of poor work-life balance on the health of people. It shows how it can affect
mental health and cause psychological disorders and increase suicidal symptoms. Analyzing
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the issue through the natural and applied science lens also highlights that meditations and
adequate rest can be ideal solutions to address the issue.
Analysis of the issue through social sciences lens
The social science lens evaluates the issues from the society perspective and in terms
of relationships between people. The issue of work-life balance has a significant impact on
the way in which individuals lead their lives in a society. A quality work-life balance is
considered to be important in order to allow individuals to lead a fulfilling and satisfying
life. On the other hand, poor work-life balance can have negative consequences. When the
issue is seen through a social science lens, the most important domains of work-life balance
are family, romantic relationships, friendships, leisure, as well as community involvement
(Gragnano et al., 2020). A number of studies show that social relationships are getting
affected due to a lack of proper work-life balance. Owing to the hectic work schedules,
overwork, and work-related stress, the individuals do not have the time to spend quality time
with their family members. This, in turn, results in the weakening of the bonds of people.
Moreover, it also limits the individuals from effectively carrying out their roles and
responsibilities towards their family members and friends. It increases disturbances in the
family life and gives rise to a number of issues in the personal life of the individuals. The
stress and frustration relating to work often end up in disputes among individuals and affect
personal relationships significantly. Poor work-life balance is often considered as the main
cause of the increase in the rates of violence, family strife, as well as divorce. It also results
in growing problems with supervising and parenting children and adolescents. Moreover, the
increase in substance abuse in society is also seen as a result of poor work-life balance.
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The lack of proper work-life balance also limits the individuals from carrying out the
duties towards the society they live in. People with poor work-life balance usually show a
lack of interest in participating in the different community events. Analyzing the issue of
work-life balance through the social science lens helps in gaining a deeper understanding of
the issue. It sheds light on all the major consequences that society and the people living in
it have to suffer. It can help in finding a solution to the issue in order to overcome the
negative consequences.
References
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