Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature

2.1 Introduction

This Chapter offers the related literature and studies after a thorough and in-depth researching

of the research team. The literature and studies presented in this chapter addresses the

different ideas, concepts generalizations, conclusions and the different developments related to

the study. This will serve as a guide for the researchers in developing their own conclusion of

the study. Moreover, the information in this chapter helps in familiarizing details that agree

with the present study.

2.2 Literature & Studies

As per Dr. Toni Mactal of Ateneo De Manila 2020 Working from home requires a certain

mindset as well as skills. It may be difficult at first, but it does not mean it is impossible. Given

the high likelihood that this will be a long-term arrangement, employees need to find ways to

embrace the new normal instead of rejecting it. Work-life balance promotes good mental

health. At the end of the day, we do not want productivity gains to come at the cost of our well-

being.

Though working from home is truly challenging but problems with work life balance may not

even be due to a work from home setting, in a recent study

according to Bhumika 2020 in the Indian Institute of Management The struggle to juggle

between work and family responsibilities emerged as one of the sources of emotional

exhaustion experienced by employees during COVID-19-induced nationwide lockdown. During

the lockdown, working women are on double bind. Due to the gender-specific roles existing in a

particular society, women struggle to maintain a balance between their professional and

personal lives. In such an unprecedented scenario, support from family members, particularly in

the context of family related tasks and responsibilities, could be a great help for working

women

when it comes to researching on work life balance, we should make sure that not only does,

employees have a problem with this but also employers who are responsible in juggling the

funds of the company whilst also ensuring to minimize their work force.

O Driscoll 2016 identified various advantages and dis-advantages of work-life balance for both

employers and employees. If work-life of an employees is imbalanced it would result into

stress, health problems in terms of physical and mental health. From employer’s point of view

imbalance of work life balance would lead to increase in absenteeism, poor performance of

employees, high cost in terms of employee turn overs and the development of new hires.

Whereas if an employee has positive experiences with the work and can manage both personal

and professional goals it would lead to satisfy social need and job satisfaction. Thus, it would

help employee and employers to manage both personal and professional life to satisfy our

organizational goal.

But do note that during this pandemic people have a hard time of identifying which is which as

the fine line between working and living your own life has been breached due to this work from

home setting. On top of that people tend to get lost due to the changing style of doing work, we

are now, more than ever connected to the Internet and that our demand for IT infrastructure is
at an all time high. Due to this employee who do not have the basic soft skills of operating

online modules of doing work will have a lot harder time coping in this new normal.

Pandita and Singhal (2017) investigated the relationship between employee engagement in IT

sector with work-life balance. It was discovered that engaging employees in the new normal

environment is difficult without providing them work-life balance in terms of flexible timing,

leave policy, compensation etc. This is because it takes a lot of time for individuals to learn new

things. And a lot more time if the person is in a certain age bracket Thus, the role of HR has

increased to engage its employees strategically in this changing business paradigm to compete

and sustain in market. This again results with the colliding goals of employers and employees as

the employers are given the responsibility of making sure their people are well equipped with

the knowledge of an Online setting. Resulting to more time devoted to training that with family.

As well as the additional cost to be paid for said trainings. Another notable problem here is the

fact that Employers would nonetheless be forced to decide to layoff some of their veteran

employees which have a lot of experience but would not be able to adopt to this New Normal.

Alegre and Pasamar (2018) gave a new approach and benefits of work-life balance which

focuses on innovativeness; use of technology in performing task both at work and personal life.

It also suggested that organizations should provide its employees with motivation, engagement

and connecting creativity at workplace.

There are many factors in understanding what truly is work life balance, and what could lead to

its imbalance and that according to the several literatures stated it can be affected by a

plethora of things.
The COVID-19 pandemic has many problems and has caused many Social, Emotional, and even

Economical at the end of the day we need to know the current status of work from home

settings of the SSS employees and how much it could have affected their work life balance.