Abstract
M.Com. (Business Management)
South Africa is currently tackling more basic challenges such as poverty alleviation, job
creation and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment issues, whereas developed
countries are prioritising Work-Life Balance in an attempt to humanise the workplace.
Globalisation, modern technology and lean business practices are challenging the old
and familiar patterns of paid work while imposing new challenges on families, individuals
and households. This contributes to long working hours, high stress levels, low energy,
extended travel commitments, reduced healthy family meals and limited basic quality of
personal and family lifestyle. Business benefits are observed in organisations that
involve employees in identifying and implementing solutions that provide a workplace
that inculcates a culture of work-life balance. The benefits for business include the
ability to attract high calibre employees, staff retention, efficiency on the job
(distractions), employee commitment, high morale and reduced absenteeism rate. The
study investigates the perception and/or views of management and journalists on the
work-life balance initiatives at BDFM (Pty) Ltd. The recommendation on how Wellness
Strategy initiatives should be implemented to mitigate challenges faced by journalists in
the media industry gives conclusion to the study. The attraction and retention of high
calibre journalists at BDFM (Pty) Ltd will help reduce both the direct and indirect costs
that the organisation incurs when there is an unplanned employee turnover. The direct
costs pertain to the recruitment and training of new employees who will replace the
previous incumbent and the costs of mistakes made during the settling in period. The
indirect costs on the other hand relate to performance, the effect of increased stress and
reduced job satisfaction.