Managing Work-Life Tensions: The Challenges for Multinational Enterprises (MNEs)

Abstract

Managing work-life issues presents a number of challenges for HR departments in multinational enterprises (MNEs) because of the complexity of implementing policies that require sensitivity to local issues such as cultural traditions and legislation. However, there has been limited discussion among researchers regarding the roles and responsibilities of HR managers in MNEs and even less attention given to work-life management in the global context. A tension-centered approach to analyzing these complexities in MNEs particularly focusing on work-life management and strategy development provide insight into constraints and challenges into organizations operating globally. There is evidence that tensions often exist in MNEs between corporate/global HR, local HR, and operational line managers involved in implementing work-life policies and practices. The promise of the tension-centered approach is that is provides insight into the ways these tensions are resolved in practice, and can point toward strategies to improve practices.

Challenges in family policy research

“…Comparative research on family policies offered by enterprises and their relationship with public policies is relatively recent, although growing (for example, den Dulk et al, 2018;Pavolini and Seeleib-Kaiser, 2018;Bardoel, 2021;Chung, 2021). But research on developing countries with less 'mature' family policies shows that the relationship between public and enterprise family policies may be more complex than a simple integration of the former by the latter, with the state regulating what enterprises should offer.…”

‘As You Sow So You Reap’: A Multi-case Study on Reshaping Workforce Well-being Through Positive Sustainability at Construction Firms

“…In recent years (that also include the devastating pandemic phase), a painful picture is observed that reflects that the well-being of employees is in jeopardy (Caligiuri et al, 2020;Jaiswal et al, 2022). The workforce is facing as well as handling complicated challenges without being able to adjust and cope emotionally (Bardoel, 2020). Work relationships are irrevocably disrupted yet they are striving to meet deadlines.…”