Where Does Work End and Home Life Begin?

Introduction

Many years ago, it was a commonly held belief that technology would improve industries and service professions, which means that people could work shorter hours and their employers would make just as much money. Essentially, this is the central myth of modern capitalism. Modern technologies are the shackles that bind today’s employees to their jobs long after they get home from work. Beginning in the 1990s, technology made working from home possible for a growing number of people. At first this was perceived as the era of great things to come. At home, many people had personal computers connected to their corporate network. It quickly became clear that telecommuting and the rapidly proliferating “electronic leash” of cell phones made work inescapable in the 24/7, on-demand work accessibility (Curry, 2003).

Today, according to the Families and Work Institute, almost half of America’s workforce is using computers, fax machines, e-mail, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile phones during what is supposed to be non-work time (Galinsky, Kim, S.S. & Bond, 2001). Stress is often the result of management’s demand on employees to be at their fingertips 24/7. Rapidly sinking under the weight of being connected, people are dealing with increasing family problems because of the blurring line between home and work. When workers are not at home or work, it is not hard to find people working: now armed with their trusty laptops, cell phones, pagers, and PDAs. Even in places of leisure, like bookstores, cafes, and neighborhood stores, Internet availability is easily accessible. Technology has made the world into a connected, global community. In a perfect world, this community is an ideal. But we are in the real world, and technology may be a nuisance that is not easily escaped.

This article addresses the following issues relating to where work ends and home life begins, that is, the work/home life-balance: (1) how increased work demands and job learning expectations in today’s 24/7 economy create situations where employees’ quality of work, personal and family relations, and health are seriously threatened, (2) how the increasing use of technology is infringing on the personal and family time of employees, (3) why continuing education is presented to employees, and, (4) how corporations respond to their employees’ needs. Increased work demands and job learning expectations in today’s 24/7 economy create situations where employees’ work, personal and family relations, and health are seriously threatened. Former American Labor Secretary Robert Reich stated “. . . the new economy is relentless. It is changing the norm, it is changing values, changing our culture. It is putting enormous pressure on people to work, and to make work the center of their lives” (Smith, 2003, p. 1). Considering these pressures, some people find themselves challenged to find a workable balance between organizational, employee, and family needs (Tayika, Archbold, & Berge, 2005).