Abstract
This chapter focuses on exploring challenges encountered by the neglected group of employees who live alone and do not have children, particularly in relation to work-life balance (WLB). We first question the conventional WLB discourse – predominately surrounded by addressing work-family conflicts. We next discuss how this formulates debates about the equality and fairness of HR policies affecting various groups of employees, with solo-living individuals being excluded. In addition to previously documented work-life issues, we articulate difficulties related to the pursuit of independence, freedom, balancing, and healthy work-life experiences for and specific to solo-living women academics. We conclude that our insights on “vulnerability” may lead to feminist approach being incorporated into work-life policy development in order to better engage underrepresented groups of employees, accommodate the needs of “others” and promote collective flourishing.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Work-Life Inclusion |
| Subtitle of host publication | Broadening perspectives across the life-course |
| Editors | Krystal Wilkinson, Helen Woolnough |
| Place of Publication | Bingley |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| Chapter | 5 |
| Pages | 53-66 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781803822198 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781803822204 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Feb 2024 |
Keywords
- Solo-living
- single
- academic
- feminism
- authoethnography
- work–life balance