A study of factors affecting Work life Balance among Healthcare Professionals

Work-Life Balance is an important issue in HRM which is necessary in promoting individual and organizational effectiveness. Work-life balance is “a state where an individual manages real or potential conflict between different demands on his or her time and energy in a way that satisfies his or her needs for well being and self fulfillment” (Clutterbuck, 2003). But increasing work pressures, globalization and technological advancement have made it an issue for both the genders, all professionals working across all levels and all industries throughout the world. Those who are working in a profession that is extremely demanding and sometimes unpredictable can be susceptible to negative Work Life Balance. Healthcare professionals are no exception to this. The nature of their work requires the healthcare professionals to work in shifts, work overtime, report to duty at odd hours, take care of people who are sick and are sometimes terminally ill. Apart from draining them of physical energy, being in contact with such people also has a bearing on their psychological health. Striking a balance between life and work is a daunting task for the healthcare professionals irrespective of whether they belong to public sector or private sector. This paper attempts to study the factors affecting the Work Life Balance of Healthcare professionals.