Recognising diversity in managing work life issues of flexpatriates

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore flexpatriates' perceptions of work life balance (WLB) issues and identify possible adjustments of WLB programs to better meet the needs of flexpatriates. This paper investigates flexpatriates' challenges at the interface of personal and work lives and their perception of standard WLB programs and then proposes organizational adjustments to better meet the needs of flexpatriates.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a qualitative research approach and two kinds of empirical data were collected: first, through in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with 40 employees involved in flexpatriate assignments in multinational companies operating in Austria and, second, through a document analysis of the homepages of their employing organizations to gain information about WLB practices.FindingsDrawing upon the study findings, the authors present a typology of flexpatriates and propose a model that considers both WLB and work life imbalance as a desirable or acceptable option and offers a new theoretical perspective for examining organization and individual dimensions in WLB.Originality/valueThe authors' contribution is a new contextualization of WLB initiatives that incorporates both WLB and work life imbalance as valid perspectives of employees.

'Success Is Satisfaction with What You Have'? Biographical Work–Life Balance of Older Female Employees in Public Administration

“…Mayerhofer et al, 2011;Sullivan and Baruch, 2009). Mayerhofer et al, 2011;Sullivan and Baruch, 2009).…”

“…Introduction P revious career research has concentrated mainly on trajectories and hindrances in the career development of highly qualified women in the private sector (cf. Mayerhofer et al, 2011;Sullivan and Baruch, 2009). Research on work-life balance has also focused mainly on women in professional occupations.…”

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Work and Family Interface in the International Career Context

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Exploring Discrimination on the Basis of International Experience: The Colonial Mindset Bias in the Context Of Pakistan

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