WOMEN & WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Over the past twenty-five years, there has been a substantial increase in work which is felt to be due, in part, by information technology and by an intense, competitive work environment. Long-term loyalty and a "sense of corporate community" have been eroded by a PERFORMANCE CULTURE that expects more and more from their employees yet offers little security in return.

Many people are experiencing burnout due to overwork and increased stress. This condition is seen in nearly all occupations from blue collar workers to upper management. A recent study for the CENTER FOR WORK-LIFE POLICY shows that globally eighty-one percent say their JOBS ARE AFFECTING THEIR HEALTH. Over the past decade, a rise in workplace violence, an increase in levels of absenteeism, as well as rising workers compensation claims are all evidence of an UNHEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE.

Stress and work-life balance

The timetable of a working woman makes one tired just by looking at it. A typical day would start at 5 a.m. and end after dinner time. The hard work can be compounded by the presence of demanding in-laws, children's illnesses and deadlines to be met at work. A woman in this situation always feels guilty that she is not doing enough for her children and her family, suffers from a feeling of inadequacy and is also found wanting by colleagues and bosses at work, and husband and in-laws at home. The children feel that their mother is not at home for them. Colleagues are usually unsympathetic. The husband often feels that he is being neglected. Classically, housework is not considered work at all, but just something a woman does, naturally; so it is rare that anybody in the family appreciates what the woman is doing for the home and understands why she is tired and irritable.

Steven L. Sauter, Chief of the Applied Psychology and Ergonomics Branch of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Cincinnati, Ohio, states that recent studies show that "the workplace has become the single greatest source of stress". Michael Feuerstein, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at Bethesda Naval Hospital states, "We're seeing a greater increase in work-related neuroskeletal disorders from a combination of stress and ergonomic stressors".

Working women are in a state of constant stress which manifests itself in symptoms like feeling weak, tired, irritable, having a headache, body ache, hyperacidity, pain in the abdomen and other gastro-intestinal problems. Problems caused by stress have become a major concern to both employers and employees. Symptoms of stress are manifested both physiologically and psychologically. Persistent stress can result in cardiovascular disease, sexual health problems, a weaker immune system and frequent headaches, stiff muscles, or backache. It can also result in poor coping skills, irritability, jumpiness, insecurity, exhaustion, and difficulty in concentrating. Stress may also perpetuate or lead to binge eating, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Medicines only are not the answer to the problem. The real treatment is to reduce the burden on working women. Measures need to be taken to reduce the level of stress of working women. Here the family, especially the spouse, obviously plays the most crucial role in this. Helping the working woman out with domestic chores and sharing the burden of parenting can often do away with her hyperacidity.

Giving her time to relax, going out for a walk, meeting her friends, and forgetting the home and her office, for a while can be an enormous stress-reliever. The medical fraternity too should recognise the working woman syndrome and consider this aspect when treating her. If the real cause is detected quickly, cures can result not from medicine but from changes in lifestyle.