Work-Life Balance: Do First Year Graduates have it?
Tyler-Baxter, Seamus

View/ Open
Cite this item:
Tyler-Baxter, S. (2012). Work-Life Balance: Do First Year Graduates have it? (Thesis, Master of Business). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/2411
Permanent link to OUR Archive version:
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/2411
Abstract:
Work-life balance is an important topic that is worthy of study and is becoming increasingly popular among researchers. There is a lack of knowledge contributing to the work-life balance issues for new graduates. This study seeks to explore how graduates in their first year of post-university study, experience work-life balance.
An interpretive methodological approach was taken to this study. A qualitative method of semi-structured interviews was used to engage with first year graduates who were in their first year of work post-university. Data was collected through recording and transcribing. Thematic analysis was used to understand how new graduates in their first year of work perceive the relationship between work and non-work life.
The results suggest that first year graduates perceive that they have a good work-life balance. Specific to this group of first year graduates was that their primary concern in their non-work life was socialising and leisure activities. The major influence on their work-life balance was their enjoyment of the structure that work provided to their work-life balance compared to university. They had a tendency to segment rather than integrate their work-life balance. However boundary management activities suggested significant interaction occurred between their work and non-work life. This suggested that there was significant overlap in both positive and negatives ways in both directions between work and non-work life. Their work-life balance was also largely connected to their career goals and aspirations for travel. They were willing to sacrifice their non-work time to be more successful in the future through a long-term perspective of delayed gratification.
Date:
2012
Advisor:
Boon, Bronwyn
Degree Name:
Master of Business
Degree Discipline:
Management
Publisher:
University of Otago
Keywords:
Work-Life Balance; Graduates
Research Type:
Thesis
Languages:
English
Collections
- Management [164]
- Thesis - Masters [3371]