| _version_ | 1866902189929136128 |
|---|---|
| author | Leap Han Loo |
| author_facet | Leap Han Loo |
| contents | <p>ABSTRACT: For decades, the concept of “work–life balance” has framed how organisations address employee well-being. Yet in Malaysia’s digitised, post-pandemic economy—shaped by flexible-work provisions in the Employment Act amendments, rapid platformisation, and a young, diverse labour force-“balance” often implies a rigid either–or. This paper argues for work–life harmony, a dynamic approach that aligns work and nonwork roles with cultural values, organsational practices, and individual boundary preferences. Integrating boundary theories, enrichment perspectives, and the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, we show how harmony unlocks engagement and performance while reducing conflict. We synthesise recent literature, spotlight five Malaysian case studies (finance, healthcare, public safety, manufacturing SMEs, and technology), and propose a practical harmony framework: (1) flexible design, (2) boundary clarity and control, (3) supportive leadership and norms, and (4) tech-enabled cadence and recovery. We conclude with recommendations for Malaysian employers and policymakers, noting limitations and research gaps.</p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_17104672 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Beyond Balance: Why Work-Life Harmony Redefines Success in the Malaysian Modern Workplace Leap Han Loo Work-life harmony; Job Demands-Resources model; flexible work; boundary theory <p>ABSTRACT: For decades, the concept of “work–life balance” has framed how organisations address employee well-being. Yet in Malaysia’s digitised, post-pandemic economy—shaped by flexible-work provisions in the Employment Act amendments, rapid platformisation, and a young, diverse labour force-“balance” often implies a rigid either–or. This paper argues for work–life harmony, a dynamic approach that aligns work and nonwork roles with cultural values, organsational practices, and individual boundary preferences. Integrating boundary theories, enrichment perspectives, and the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, we show how harmony unlocks engagement and performance while reducing conflict. We synthesise recent literature, spotlight five Malaysian case studies (finance, healthcare, public safety, manufacturing SMEs, and technology), and propose a practical harmony framework: (1) flexible design, (2) boundary clarity and control, (3) supportive leadership and norms, and (4) tech-enabled cadence and recovery. We conclude with recommendations for Malaysian employers and policymakers, noting limitations and research gaps.</p> |
| title | Beyond Balance: Why Work-Life Harmony Redefines Success in the Malaysian Modern Workplace |
| topic | Work-life harmony; Job Demands-Resources model; flexible work; boundary theory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17104672 |