Abstract
There is dearth of research with respect to Work Life Balance (WLB) in the developing countries exacerbated by an inadequate knowledge sharing of African WLB research. Current South African WLB studies in the public service focus more in the public health sector. This qualitative study contributes to closing the void in South African WLB studies in the public sector. In this case, the focus is on the public sector, specifically exploring the (i) Department of Labour (DoL)’s black managing mothers’ experiences and preferences on departmental policies that promotes Work Life Balance (WLB); and (ii) coping strategies they adopt to facilitate WLB. Purposive sampling was used to obtain black married managing mothers employed by the DoL. The study illustrates and contest the void in an overarching WLB policy, in context of increased managerial responsibility and social reproduction. The latter is not shared equally by spouses and it influences negatively on managing mothers’ WLB. The participants demonstrated resilience and agency in the contested terrain of WLB by adopting strategies that save time for some life commitments. Predominantly, they intentionally pursued segmentation strategy to draw boundaries that enhance WLB. The motive behind boundaries is simply because both work and life are important, and deserves a healthy worker. Nonetheless, there is still a degree of permeability between work/life spaces, emanating from work travel requirements, personal errands during work such as studies, and non-delegation of work. Despite available strategies and coping mechanisms, generally, they neglect leisure to prioritise family, work, studies and, to some extent religion. The entire spectrum of current support goes beyond the nuclear family, yet is inadequate to respond to the needs of managing mothers. Drawing from social reproduction theory to illuminate empirical evidence, the study identified pervasive patriarchal norms in both work/life domains. It results in a WLB policy deficit and resultant poor uptake of the current limited WLB provision. The ideal worker mentality is pervasive, eroding women’s endeavours to promote WLB. Thus, women’s experience of WLB relates to these ideal informed by patriarchal norms and prioritisation of the economic production over social reproduction. Women hold a discourse that undermines their breadwinner role, sustains own disadvantage and the privileged position...
M.A. (Sociology)