Title: A comparison of work-life balance perspectives of future business professionals in the USA and Germany

Authors: Stefan Linnhoff; Katherine Taken Smith; L. Murphy Smith

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071-3314, USA ' Department of Management and Marketing, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071-3314, USA ' Department of Accounting, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071-3314, USA

Abstract: Finding a balance between allocating one's time for work and non-work activities is a challenge people face around the world. The global marketplace and advances in technology have played a role in requiring professionals to allocate more time to improving their job skills and knowledge in order to stay competitive. With this increase in time spent on work-related activities, there is growing interest by professionals to address work-life balance. Research has shown that employee satisfaction, productivity and ethical behaviour may be positively affected by facilitating the work-life balance of employees. This study extends prior research on work-life balance by comparing perspectives of future business professionals in the USA and Germany. The findings provide insight into the global nature of the work-life balance issue, specifically, the similarities and differences in work-life balance perspectives in different countries among the next generation who are on the brink of entering the workforce.

Keywords: work-life balance; WLB; global business; human resources; productivity; ethics; USA; United States; Germany; business professionals; future professionals; employee satisfaction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2014.064679

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2014 Vol.13 No.3, pp.322 - 353

Published online: 13 Sep 2014 *

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