Quality of work life

O.B.O.B.Quality of Work Quality of Work

LifeLife

PARIKSHITPARIKSHIT

MONOJIT MONOJIT

Quality of Work LifeQuality of Work Life A multi-faceted conceptA multi-faceted concept It means having a work-environment where an employee’s It means having a work-environment where an employee’s

activities become more important by implementing activities become more important by implementing procedures or policies that make the work less routine and procedures or policies that make the work less routine and more rewarding for the employeemore rewarding for the employee

There exists a relationship between Q.W.L and There exists a relationship between Q.W.L and productivityproductivity

Quality of Work LifeQuality of Work Life The people involved get a sense of The people involved get a sense of

satisfaction in their work. Work then satisfaction in their work. Work then becomes not a burden but a means by which becomes not a burden but a means by which the abilities of a person can find expressionthe abilities of a person can find expression

Mass-production technology has made Mass-production technology has made worker’s job monotonous and it is of little worker’s job monotonous and it is of little meaning to themmeaning to them

Results of low Q.W.L are absenteeism, low Results of low Q.W.L are absenteeism, low performance, poor morale and occasional performance, poor morale and occasional sabotage. Ultimately it is the organization sabotage. Ultimately it is the organization that suffers.that suffers.

Quality of Work Life-Origin Quality of Work Life-Origin of the conceptof the concept

After Industrial After Industrial Revolution, the Revolution, the importance of human importance of human factor reduced because of factor reduced because of the vast mechanization. the vast mechanization. Various problems like job Various problems like job dissatisfaction, boredom, dissatisfaction, boredom, absenteeism, lack of absenteeism, lack of commitment etc came up.commitment etc came up.

Most mgt theories gave Most mgt theories gave emphasis on production, emphasis on production, manipulating the skills of manipulating the skills of the employeesthe employees

Meaning and definition Meaning and definition of Q.W.Lof Q.W.L

Q.W.L is any conscious effort for improving working conditions, work Q.W.L is any conscious effort for improving working conditions, work content, and its safety, security, wages and benefits, etc.content, and its safety, security, wages and benefits, etc.

Q.W.L can be said to be all the original inputs which aim at improving the Q.W.L can be said to be all the original inputs which aim at improving the employees’ satisfaction and enhancing organizational effectivenessemployees’ satisfaction and enhancing organizational effectiveness

Q.W.L is a concern not only to improve life at work, but also life outside workQ.W.L is a concern not only to improve life at work, but also life outside work It is nothing but having a work environment where an employees activities It is nothing but having a work environment where an employees activities

become more important. This means implementing procedures or policies become more important. This means implementing procedures or policies that make the work less routine and more rewarding for the employee. These that make the work less routine and more rewarding for the employee. These procedures or policies include autonomy, recognition, belongingness, procedures or policies include autonomy, recognition, belongingness, development and external rewardsdevelopment and external rewards

Quality of Work LifeQuality of Work Life Simply speaking, through Simply speaking, through

Q.W.L the people involved Q.W.L the people involved get a sense of satisfaction get a sense of satisfaction in their work. Work then in their work. Work then becomes not a burden but becomes not a burden but a means by which the a means by which the abilities of a person can abilities of a person can find expressionfind expression

Q.W.L is just humanizing Q.W.L is just humanizing the workthe work

Q.W.L = The sum total of Q.W.L = The sum total of physical (working physical (working conditions), psychological conditions), psychological and economic factors and economic factors which affect the job.which affect the job.

Objectives of Q.W.LObjectives of Q.W.L To improve the standard of living of the employeesTo improve the standard of living of the employees To increase the productivityTo increase the productivity To create a positive attitude in the minds of the To create a positive attitude in the minds of the

employeesemployees To increase the effectiveness of the organization To increase the effectiveness of the organization

(Profitability, goal accomplishment etc.)(Profitability, goal accomplishment etc.)

Factors affecting Quality of Factors affecting Quality of Work LifeWork Life

Some people consider Q.W.L Some people consider Q.W.L as the existence of a certain as the existence of a certain set of original conditions set of original conditions and practices. They agree and practices. They agree that high Q.W.L exists whenthat high Q.W.L exists when

Democratic management Democratic management practices are prevalent in practices are prevalent in the organizationthe organization

When employees’ jobs are When employees’ jobs are enrichingenriching

They are treated with They are treated with dignity and safe working dignity and safe working conditions are presentconditions are presentOthers equate Q.W.L with Others equate Q.W.L with the impact of working the impact of working conditions on the conditions on the employee's well-beingemployee's well-being

Countries that practiced Countries that practiced Q.W.L initiallyQ.W.L initially

SwedenSweden DenmarkDenmark HollandHolland SwitzerlandSwitzerland AustraliaAustralia USAUSA

Companies practicing Companies practicing Quality of Work LifeQuality of Work Life

General MotorsGeneral Motors Ford Motors with UAWFord Motors with UAW XEROXXEROX IBMIBM BHELBHEL TISCOTISCO

Measuring of Q.W.LMeasuring of Q.W.LQuestionnaires and interviews are Questionnaires and interviews are

relevant here. In General Motors the relevant here. In General Motors the management gives a questionnaire management gives a questionnaire of 16 critical dimensions of Q.W.L to of 16 critical dimensions of Q.W.L to its employees each year. The its employees each year. The responses are then used to measure responses are then used to measure the employees’ perception of their the employees’ perception of their work life.work life.

Implementation of Q.W.LImplementation of Q.W.L Management and Employees’ co-operation- A worker-Mgt committee Management and Employees’ co-operation- A worker-Mgt committee

on work improvement can function effectively to increase co-on work improvement can function effectively to increase co-operationoperation

Action plans developed must be followed to completionAction plans developed must be followed to completion Support ot middle-managers by top management and bottom-level Support ot middle-managers by top management and bottom-level

employees to implement the programmeemployees to implement the programme The objectives of Q.W.L should be a joint one, i.e., for workers it is The objectives of Q.W.L should be a joint one, i.e., for workers it is

to improve Q.W.L; for management it is to improve organizational to improve Q.W.L; for management it is to improve organizational efficiencyefficiency

Barriers to Q.W.LBarriers to Q.W.L Resistance to change both by mgt and employeesResistance to change both by mgt and employees There is a general perception that Q.W.L There is a general perception that Q.W.L

implementation will cost much to the organizationimplementation will cost much to the organization Continuous increase in Q.W.L may result in less Continuous increase in Q.W.L may result in less

productivity, i.e., after a certain level the productivity productivity, i.e., after a certain level the productivity will not increase in proportion to the increase in Q.W.Lwill not increase in proportion to the increase in Q.W.L