IJMB Journal – Abstracts
International Journal of Management and Business
IJMB Volume XI, Issue 1
Outcomes of Work-life Initiatives in the Manufacturing Sector: A Systematic Review
Nana Amma Acheampong
University of Maryland Global Campus
E-mail: narchie13@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The pervasiveness of work-life conflict with its attendant challenges confronting manufacturing employees and employers has spurred increasing calls for a wider implementation of work-life initiatives to mitigate the problems caused by the pressures of work and employees’ personal lives. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the implementation of work-life initiatives on employee and organizational outcomes. The author employed a systematic review design based on an aggregative review approach to identify, appraise, analyze, and interpret the data found. Blau’s social exchange theory provided the theoretical explanation for the wide implementation of work-life options in the manufacturing sector. Using a thematic synthesis method, the author identified and explained the unique and converging patterns of perspectives on the outcomes of work-life initiatives from 10 selected studies. The findings revealed a positive association between work-life initiatives and positive work attitudes, improved retention, and enhanced employee productivity. This paper offers implications for human resource practitioners, business leaders, and management scholars. This paper is novel as it focuses on optimizing productivity in the manufacturing sector and it is a contribution to the global policy debate on work flexibility and economic competitiveness. Finally, the study’s implications and conclusions are presented.
Keywords: Work-life initiatives, work life balance, work-related outcomes, systematic review.
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