The paper explored into the work and life balance of the deans in selected state universities in Zamboanga City using the qualitative phenomenological approach. It employed a purposive homogeneous sampling method in the selection of the participants who served as the primary sources of data. In order gather data pertinent to the conduct of study, discovery‐oriented questions were utilized to address the need for depth, focus, detail, and evidence. The entire analytic followed the explication process proposed by Braun and Clarke and addressed the rigors of findings. Dealing with intensive schedules, ponderous expectations, and uncooperative behavior are the foremost difficulties they experienced in leading their respective departments. Nevertheless, proper scheduling, delegation of duty, involvement in sports or Zumba are the common ways they employed to achieve a work-life balance. The participants underscored that time management, motivation and work delegation, compensation, and team building result to satisfied and healthy school managers who make sound decisions and demonstrate good practices that eventually lead to high performance and productivity.
Keywords: Work - Life Balance, Deans, State Universities
Introduction
The search for work-life balance is a process in which people seek to change things in accordance with changes in their own priorities, physical, psychological or both, and these can be triggered in turn by factors such as: age; changes in working conditions; the demands of new technology; and poor management. (Business Information Review Publication). It is phenomenon that besets managers today, particularly deans of state universities and colleges (SUCs).
In this context, Deans, who experience difficulties in maintaining work-life balance, will have the chance to articulate their experience, unburden themselves and seek help. Enlighten the school administrators of participating SUCs, as to the difficulties experienced by their deans in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, thereby enable them to embark on ways to help the former or improve their ways of addressing the issue if interventions are already in place, and faculty members as to the difficulties that their deans undergo in navigating through challenge of maintaining work-life balance, thus paving the way for the former to be more understanding and cooperative with the former.
The family members, colleagues and friends of the deans will learn to be more compassionate and open their minds and hearts to the difficulties experienced by their loved one in maintaining work-life balance have a deeper understanding of the dean’s experiences.
In the smaller circle of the dean’s private life as an individual and civil status attachment, he or she is also required to be a good manager and the expectations are high. The output is in a 24/7-time cycle and a priority in his or her career as a dean in the educational organization. Living in these two separate worlds the dean is an inseparable and integrated component. And every thought, word and action that comes from him or her creates repercussions or ripples, whether positive or negative in the workplace and private home or family.
However, the search is true especially among managers and supervisors like the deans of state universities and colleges (SUCs). The circumstances surrounding the life of deans in a given educational institution are challenging, interesting and myriad. Their job differs from that of ordinary faculty members in several aspects due to the exigencies of their work responsibilities towards subordinates as well as immediate superiors, the demands of which could sometimes be daunting.
Furthermore, it has been observed that the position of the deans is vital in the management aspect of an educational institution. Studies suggest that the average time spent on the job has increased dramatically and as a result, work influences personal life (Guest, 2002). Work pressures have escalated in the past decades. The necessity to navigate within the broader organizational environment and the significant changes in the nature of their work make the academic deans’ position stressful and exhausting. Along with the emotional struggles is sometimes the experience of a great sense of loneliness and isolation. There is a need for these leaders to man educational organizations and are held responsible for the achievement of goals at hand. Moreover, it has been noted that deans are subject to other peoples’ perceptions and views concerning their thoughts, feelings and interactions related to their overall performance on the job.
In addition, deans are confronted with the challenge of performing their duties and responsibilities as heads or members of a family and of maintaining a harmonious and fulfilling personal life. Living in both worlds of work and private life, deans are inseparable and integrated beings. Every thought, word and action that emanates from them creates repercussions or ripples, whether positive or negative, in the workplace and in the home or family. As one study notes, “Work –life balance becomes a challenge between work and family roles resulting with the daily pressures of family, friends and self. (Gregory and Milner,2009).
Maintaining proper work-life balance is indeed imperative. Employees who have difficulty balancing their work and personal life often experience a high level of stress and sickness which negatively affects their relationships at work and in personal life resulting in poor performance and low productivity. “Learning these components and their correlation to job performance can assist organizations in evaluating their current practices regarding employees” (Buchanan 2006). It is therefore, significant to find out their job performance and how immediate supervisors measure productivity at work.
The challenge of maintaining a happy work-life balance is even apparent in modern-day local educational settings such as state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Zamboanga City where the circumstances and experiences of the deans are no different from other deans in general. In this light, a scrutiny of the efforts to establish a work-life balance among deans would not only be interesting but is also a must, if only to help deans become happier and more productive in the work place. It could shed light on the unfavorable situation experienced by deans as well as the good practices of some SUCs. The results could also impact on other individuals who are similarly situated.
The questions, therefore, what are the common difficulties encountered by deans of SUCs in Zamboanga City relative to maintaining a work-life balance? What practices do the deans and the school administration employ to achieve work-life balance? What more can be done to help achieve a healthy work-life balance among deans of SUCs in Zamboanga City?
The study focused on knowing the common difficulties encountered by deans of SUCs in Zamboanga City relative to maintaining a work-life balance; the practices of school administrators to help deans achieve work-life balance; and what more can be done to help deans attain a healthy work-life balance.