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ARTICLES

Perspectives on work–family issues in China: the voices of young urban professionals

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Pages 197-212 | Received 27 Oct 2007, Published online: 08 May 2009
 

Abstract

Young Chinese urban professionals anticipating entry into the workforce were interviewed and surveyed on their experiences with and expectations about balancing work and family issues. The objectives of our study were to assess the salience of the work–life issue for this understudied population, identify actions that the employee and the employer (manager) might take to address the issue of work–family balance, and identify contextual factors that enhance and inhibit an individual's efforts to balance work and family. Results of this study suggest that the challenge of balancing work and family is a significant issue for this generation of young Chinese professionals. Also, they likely have different experiences and expectations than has been indicated from previous studies of work–family issues in the context of China. Our study has practical relevance not only for individuals, but also for managers and organizations that want to consider potential family-friendly policies or other strategies to recruit and retain new professionals entering the Chinese workforce.

Jóvenes profesionales chinos, que se anticipan a la entrada en la fuerza de trabajo, han sido entrevistados y llenaron cuestionarios sobre sus experiencias y lo que anticiparon acerca de sus estrategias para equilibrar el trabajo y la familia. Los objetivos de nuestro estudio fue el evaluar la prominencia del balance entre empleo y familia para este grupo poco estudiado, identificar las acciones que el empleado y el empleador (manejador) podrán tomar para dirigir el equilibrio entre empleo y familia, e identificar los factores contextuales que aumentan o inhiben los esfuerzos de un individuo para equilibrar el trabajo y la familia. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que el desafío de equilibrar entre el empleo y la familia es un asunto muy significativo para esta generación de jóvenes chinos profesionales. Además, es probable que tengan experiencias y expectativas diferentes de lo que ha sido indicado por estudios anteriores sobre el equilibrio entre empleo y familia en el contexto chino. Nuestro estudio tiene importancia no sólo para el individuo, sino también para manejadores y organizaciones que consideran las estrategias y prácticas que acomodan el balance entre empleo y familia para emplear y retener nuevos a profesionales en China.

Acknowledgements

Research support from the National Science Foundation (NSF #0554662) is gratefully acknowledged.

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