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Case 2: Work-Life Balance in an MNE Context

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Strategic Human Resource Management and Employment Relations

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Abstract

Global work-life initiatives present unique challenges for HR departments in multinational enterprises (MNEs) because of the complexity of implementing policies that require sensitivity to local issues such as cultural traditions and legislation (e.g., Bardoel and De Cieri 2007; Scullion et al. 2007; Sumelius et al. 2008). However, discussion specific to work-life management in a global context is limited (e.g., Allen et al. 2010; Lewis et al. 2007). Amid unprecedented levels of global mergers, acquisitions and international growth, the challenge for HR professionals working in multinational enterprises is to define a global work/life strategy that establishes shared guidelines while allowing for local differences. Although there are a number of common issues faced by working women and men and their families, a global work-life strategy needs to reflect a course of action that is appropriate to the local environment. According to Spinks (2003) an effective family friendly strategy requires managers to be cognizant of a number of local factors that influence employees’ work and personal lives. These factors include the culture and tradition, the role of key stake-holders, public policies, community resources and infrastructure, and workplace practices and demo-graphics (Bardoel and De Cieri 2007).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Anne Bardoel

Authors
  1. Anne Bardoel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne Bardoel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business and Law, Central Coast Business School, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia

    Ashish Malik

Case Study Questions

Case Study Questions

Following the above case study and relying on the key resource stated below, your task is to:

  1. 1.

    Analyse three generic sources of tensions are identified in the management of global work-life issues.

  2. 2.

    Evaluate various resolutions that could apply to MNEs in relation LGBT employees.

  3. 3.

    Decide which strategy do you think would be most effective in the case study MNE?

  4. 4.

    Comment should this MNE have a global LGBT policy? Why/ why not?

Key Resource

Bardoel, E.A. ( 2016 ). Work-life management tensions in multinational enterprises (MNEs). International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27, 1681–1709.

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Bardoel, A. (2018). Case 2: Work-Life Balance in an MNE Context. In: Malik, A. (eds) Strategic Human Resource Management and Employment Relations. Springer Texts in Business and Economics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0399-9_16

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