“MAN BLIR INTE CHEF FÖR ATT MAN VILL BLI VALD TILL LUCIA” - En kvalitativ studie om upplevelsen av work-life balance bland kvinnliga chefer i offentlig sektor

Abstract

Striking an acceptable balance between work and private life has become a much-discussed concept in recent years. Developments within the labour market and an expectation of increased flexibility have contributed to long working days increasingly being considered the acceptable norm. In its turn, this triggers people to take work home on a wider scale. This blurs the line even further for individuals looking to distinguish their work life from their private life. Other influences in people's private lives will likely also affect the balance, for example when new family constellations change our routines and life situation. Notably, statistics show an increase in the number of women who have entered the labour market. Moreover, 40 percent of managers in the Swedish workforce today are women. The aim of this study is to investigate what the term “work-life balance” means to female managers in the public sector and which factors affect the balance between their work and private lives. The purpose is to create a wider understanding of how the female managers perceive the balance between work and private life. Furthermore, the aim is to understand and explain how and why the female managers experience balance or imbalance between work and life outside of their chosen profession, and how this is affected by factors such as stress, a demand for greater flexibility as well as other demands. The result indicates that women appreciate balance between their work and private lives, flexibility, and support in their work. Balance between work and private life is especially important among women who have younger kids. Due to their long workdays, a balance between their working- and personal roles is hard to reach, and the female managers often work during evenings, weekends, and holidays. The perceived balance is also influenced by a lack of time and support.