Title of the paper: A

study of the Work- Life Balance among the Academics of Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of Golaghat district, Assam.
Paper Prepared By: DR. JATINDRA NATH SAIKIA. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEAPRTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, GOLAGHAT COMMERCE COLLEGE, JYOTI NAGAR, GOLAGHAT, PIN: 785 621, ASSAM Email: jatin_saikia@yahoo.com Mobile: 91-9435151015

A study of the Work Life Balance among the Academics of Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of Golaghat District, Assam. Dr. Jatindra Nath Saikia.

Introduction: Work Life balance is about people having a measure of control over when, where
and how they work. It is achieved when an individuals right to a fulfilled life inside and outside paid work is accepted and respected as the norm, to the mutual benefit of the individual, business and society. Work Life balance has always been a concern of those interested in the quality of working life and its relation to broader quality of life (Guest, 2002). The articulation of work and life, cast as work-life balance, has become a key feature of much current government, practitioner and academic debate (Eikhob, Warhurt & Haunschild, 2007). It is believed that balancing a successful career with a personal or family life can be challenging and impact on a persons satisfaction in their work and personal lifes roles (Broers, 2005). Dundas(2008) argues that Work Life balance is about effectively managing the juggling act between paid work and all other activities that important to people such as family community activities, voluntary works, personal development and leisure and recreation. The ability to balance between workplaces needs and personal lifes need is perceived as an important issue among workers globally and academics in higher education institutions were not excluded (Mohd Noor, Stanton & Young, 2009). Educational institutions are regarded as knowledge industry and these are related to creation of knowledge. All other activities and industries will be meaningless if knowledge is not created by some institutions or people. The persons engaged in creation and imparting knowledge are very important ones for all societies and countries in the world. Effectiveness and efficiency of these persons depend upon the balance of their work life and family and personal life. People engaged in imparting higher education have to play a vital role in every society. Assam, which is a state of India and Golaghat district of Assam are not exceptions in this regard. In this paper an endeavour has been made to discuss about how the balance of the work life and family life of the academics working in the higher education institutions in Golaghat district of Assam can help to be effective and efficient in their performance. Review of Literature relating to Work-Life Balance: Work-life balance has important consequences for employee attitudes towards their organizations as well as for the lives of employees (Scholaris & Marks, 2004). Guest (2002) believes that it is possible to investigate the trend of work-life balance and its developments which influence the well-being and job outcomes of employees at work. The issues relating to maintaining and obtaining a work-life balance have received substantial attention over recent

years (Deery, 2008) but less attention, however, has been given to find the reality of work-life balance satisfaction in the higher educational sector (Doherty & Manfredi, 2006; Mohd Noor & Amat, 2010; Mohd Noor, Stanton & Young, 2009). Nevertheless, we need to understand the definition underlying work-life balance concepts. Defining the concept of WLB is a complex task, as it can be viewed from the meaning of work, life and balance (Deery, 2008). Dundas (2008) argues that work-life balance is about effectively managing the juggling act between paid work and all other activities that are important to people such as family, community activities, voluntary work, personal development and leisure and recreation. Greenhaus, Collins and Shaw (2003) define work-life balance as the extent to which an individual is equally engaged in and equally satisfied with his or her work role and family role. Thus, employees who experience high work-life balance are those who exhibit similar investment of time and commitment, to work and non-work domains (Virick, Lily & Casper, 2007). Numerous studies have been done on searching the association between work-life balance and attitudinal job outcomes such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment (see Doherty and Manfredi 2006; Kinnie, Hutchinson, Purcell, Rayton and Swart 2005; Scholarios & Marks, 2004; Virick, Lily & Casper, 2007; Youngcourt, 2005; Zin, 2006). For instance, Virick et al. (2007)s study on layoff survivors in a high tech company found that work-life balance is positively related to job satisfaction. Howard, Donofrio and Boles (2004) in a study among police personnel concluded that work-family conflict which reflects work-life balance issue is significantly related to satisfaction with job. In a study of the links between employees satisfaction with HR practices and their affective commitment to the organisation, Kinnie et al. (2005) found that work-life balance are associated with the organisational commitment of all employee groups. Furthermore, the authors found that there is some evidence that company efforts to help employees achieve a balance between work and home life is linked to the commitment of all groups of employees. The extant literature on the subject of work-life balance tends to make numbers of assumptions and one of those is that improving an organizations work-life balance leads not only to greater productivity but to greater company loyalty and low level of intent to leave the organization (Moore, 2007). Noor and Maad (2008) in their study among marketing executives found that work-life conflict have a significant positive relationship with turnover intentions. Objective of the paper: The main objective of the paper is to analyze the impact of work-life balance of the academics of higher education institutions of Golaghat district of Assam. Methodology:

a) Population: The population for the study comprises academics from eight colleges affiliated to

Dibrugarh University, Assam imparting higher education. Using a simple random sampling technique, the researcher has drawn a sample of 76 from the estimated 305 academics working in the eight colleges. The size of the sample is 25% of the total population which surely represent the entire population of the institutions situated in the district. The respondents included wide range faculties of different departments. Among the eight colleges two colleges are of different nature from the rest. Out these two colleges, one is imparting legal education (Law College) and another is a post graduate institute of teacher education.
b) Data Collection: In order to collect necessary data a questionnaire has been canvassed and

almost all the academics, who were sent the questionnaire, have responded. The collected data have been processed by using SPSS software and analysis and interpretation has been done in descriptive way without resorting to any statistical tool.

Analysis of the data: About Assam: Assam is situated in the North Eastern Region of India-bordering
seven states viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal and two countries viz. Bangladesh and Bhutan. With a geographical area of 78,438 sq. kms. i.e., about 2.4 percent of the countrys total geographical area, Assam provides shelter to 2.2 percent population of the country. Most of the states population lives in the lush and verdant valleys of its two major river systems in the twenty four districts of the Brahmaputra valley and the three districts of the Barak valley. Less densely populated are the two hill districts of karbi-Anglong and the North Cachar Hills, set in the low-lying hills that separate the two valleys. For administrative and revenue purposes, the state has 27 districts including Kamrup (Metro) district and four districts under the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas viz. Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri. Golaghat district, our study area is situated in the eastern most side of the state having reputation as an education hub of Upper Assam. As stated above the colleges covered by this study are situated in Golaghat district of Assam. Following is an analysis of the collected information of the selected colleges of the district.

So far as the age of the respondent is concerned it is observed that 47% academics are in the age group of 30-38 years. The table given below details their age.

Table No-1 Age

Age Less than 30 years 30-38 years 39-46 years 47-54 years 55-60 years Total No of Respondents 06 36 14 08 08 76 percentage 7.9 47.4 18.4 10,5 10.5 100

It is observed that out of the 76 academics 44.7% is male and 55.3% is female .Following table shows the number of days engaged in the official works by the academics. Table No-2 Number of days engaged in official works in a week No of days 5 Days 6 Days 7 Days Total No of academics 06 68 02 76 Percentage 7.9 89.5 2.6 100

The above table shows that majority of the academics normally have one day off in a week and only 7.9% has to work 5 days in a week. So far as the number of hours in duty in a day is concerned 65.8% works 6 to 7 hours. The following table shows the details in this regard. Table No-3 Number of hours worked in a day

Number of works No of academics Percentage 4-5 hours 18 23.7 6-7 hours 50 65.8 8-9 hours 04 5.3 More than 9 hours 04 5.3 Total 76 100 The above table shows that majority of the academics has to work for 6 to 7 hours in a day, which is very much normal hours in a workplace. Of course a few of them have to work for long hours too. All the academics have to work in the general day shift only. It is also observed that out of the 76 respondents covered by our study 84.2% is married and the rest 15.8% is unmarried. The study found that the respondents have to travel a few hours only in order to reach their work place and home from the workplace. The table given below has given the clear picture of the same.

Table No-4 No of hours spent in travelling in a day

No of hours Less than half an hour Nearly 1 hour Nearly 2 hours More than 2 hours Total Number of respondents 30 20 20 06 76 Percentage 39.5 26.3 26.3 7.9 100

It is observed that only 7.9 respondents have to travel more than 2 hours daily which is also not so long travelling time. It is found that 48 respondents partners are employed and 54 are having children. The table given below shows the details of the persons who take care of the children of the married couples.

Table No-5 Persons engaged in the Childrens care

Person take care Spouse In-lows Respondents number 18 04 Percentage 23.7 5.3

Parents 12 Servants 16 Crche 04 Not applicable 22 Total 76 The above table shows that 23.7% respondents children are taken figure is 21.1%, whose children are under the care of the servants.

15.8 21.1 5.3 28.9 100 care of by their spouse. Next big

The table given below gives a picture of the number of hours spent by the respondents with their children.

Table No-6 No of hours spent with their children

No of Hours Less than 2 hours 2-3 hours 3-4 hours 4-5 hours More than 5 hours Not Applicable Total Number of Academics 6 12 14 12 10 22 76 Percentage 7.9 15.8 18.4 15.8 13.1 28.9 28.9

The above table indicated that the time spent by the respondents with their children is different from each other and there is not so much variations in this regard.

It is observed that the out of the 76 respondents covered by our study 34.2% has to take care of the older people of their families, 28.9% dependent adults and 7.9% has to take care of their children who are very young in age. The rest 28.9% does not have anybody to look after. It is observed that the out of the 76 respondents covered by our study 34.2% has to take care of the older people of their families, 28.9% dependent adults and 7.9% has to take care of their children who are very young in age. The rest 28.9% does not have anybody to look after. It is also found from study that only 7.9% of the total respondents never think about work when they are not in work. The table shown below gives a picture of this.

Table No-6 How often you worry about work when you are not at work
Reactions Never think about work Rarely Sometimes Often Always Total No of academics 06 02 26 14 28 76 Percentage 7.9 34,2 18.4 36,8 100

The study found that only 2.6% of the respondent does not have any comment about their houses of work, 63.2% is happy with their present allotted working hours. When asked whether the respondents miss out quality time from families because of work their responses have been found to be mixed.

Table No-7 Do you miss out quality time from families because of work
Responses Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always Total No of Respondents 12 08 40 10 06 76 Percentage 15.8 10.5 52.6 13.2 7.9 100

On the other hand, when asked whether they get depressed or tired because of work 34.2% responded as never, 31.6% as rarely and 34.2% informed that they feel depressed and tired sometimes. In order to manage stress of works and other affairs the respondents resort to various methods and these are given in the following table.

Table-8 How do you manage your stress

Activity Yoga and Meditation Entertainment Music Others (sports etc.) Total No of respondents 18 36 16 06 76 Percentage 23.7 47.4 21.1 7.9 100

The table given below gives an idea about the aspects which help them in balancing work and life.

Table-9 Aspects help in balancing work life

Aspects Flexible starting hours Flexible finishing hours Flexible hours in general No of respondents 06 06 26 Percentage 7.9 7.9 34.2

Holidays and paid time offs Job sharing Time off for family engagement Total

08 22 08 76

10.5 28.9 10.5 100

The two tables given below have shown some items and aspects help and hinder the work life and family commitment of the academics covered by the study.

Table No-10 Items & aspects help in balancing the work & family commitment
Items & aspects Working from home Technology like Cell Phones and laptops Being able to bring children to work on occasion Support from Colleagues at work Support from family members Total No of Academics 22 04 04 22 24 76 Percentage 28.9 5.3 5.3 28.9 31.6 100

Table No-11 Items & aspects hinder in balancing the work & family commitments Items & aspects Technology such as Mobile & laptops Frequently travelling away from home Negative attitude from peer &colleagues at work Negative attitudes of the Principals Negative attitudes of family members Not applicable Total No of respondents 14 14 06 10 06 26 76 Percentage 18.4 18.4 7.9 13.2 7.9 34.2 100

From the above analysis it is clear that the academics have to work for a normal working hours which is neither long nor short. The academics do not have to work either in the evening shift or night shift. They also do not have to travel a long hours in order to reach their work place and to their residence from the

work place. On the other hand, in case of the majority of academics their spouse takes care of the children and most of them have sufficient time to spend with their children. It is noteworthy that a large number of the respondents do not feel depressed for work and a few fell depressed rarely and the equal number of respondents feels depressed and tired sometime only. There is not a single respondent found who feel depressed and tired out of works regularly. Almost all the respondents have sufficient time to fulfill their family commitments and they also have sufficient time to spend time with their families. The above discussion reveals that the academics covered by our study have a balanced work-life. Because of their balance work life their efficiency has increased and consequently the colleges have been able to show very good results in all aspects both scholastic and non-scholastic. All the colleges covered by our study have been having very good results of the final year students. One of the colleges has been rewarded as the Centre of Excellence by the University Grants Commission. More than 50% colleges of Golaghat district is expected to obtain A Grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) this year.

Conclusion: Just as other sector the Work-life balance for the people working in the education sector
is very much important. Because education sector creates knowledge which is required for all the sectors. If the people working in education sector do not have a balance work-life, it may be harmful for all the sectors. Efficiency of the knowledge workers is very much important for the development of a country. The knowledge workers having work-life balance can show wonderful results which can be shared by everybody and every section of the society.

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(Dr. Jatindra Nath Saikia is an Associate Professor, Department of Human

Resource Management, Golaghat Commerce College, Golaghat-785 621, Assam, India. Mobile: 91-94351-51015)

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