Skip to main content

Work Hard, Play Hard: Work-Life Balance in Small Business

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Subsistence Entrepreneurship

Part of the book series: Contributions to Management Science ((MANAGEMENT SC.))

Abstract

This chapter concerns work-life balance in small business models and compares work-life balance situations for both the owners of franchised and independently owned non-franchised small businesses. It provides a framework to assist and empower individuals to take control of their own outcomes, whilst managing the multiplicity of roles that constitute work and life. The research project follows a qualitative research method in the realist paradigm using case studies. It comprises a variety of data sources such as in-depth interviews, personally administered questionnaires, and interviewer observations. The concept of work-life balance has different meanings for many different people. Generally, most individuals in small business reconcile competing work and life demands on an ad hoc basis. This research is unique. It is the first empirical analysis conducted in Australia that compares the work-life balance of franchised and independent small business owners.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alam I (2005) Fieldwork and data collection in qualitative marketing research. Qual Mark Res Int J 8(1):97–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Annink A, Den Dulk L, Amorós JE (2016) Different strokes for different folks? The impact of heterogeneity in work characteristics and country contexts on work-life balance among the self-employed. Int J Entrep Behav Res 22(6):880–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2004) Characteristics of small business Australia, 8127.0

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2005) Cafes and restaurants 8655.0 2003-04

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006–07) Cafes, restaurants and catering services, Australia 8655.0

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2012) Selected characteristics of Australian business 2011-12, Cat. No. 8167.0

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013) Counts of Australian businesses, including entries and exits, Jun 2009 to Jun 2013, Cat. No. 8165.0

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett S, Frazer L, Weaven S (2010) What prospective franchisees are seeking. J Mark Channel 17(1):69–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird B, Schjoedt L, Baum JR (2012) Editor’s introduction. Entrepreneurs’ behavior: elucidation and measurement. Entrep Theory Pract 36(5):889–913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blenkinsopp J, Owens G (2010) At the heart of things. Int J Entrep Behav Res 16(5):357–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buttner EH, Moore DP (Jan 1997) Women’s organisational exodus to entrepreneurship: self-reported motivations and correlates with success. J Small Bus Manag 35(1):34–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavana RY, Delahaye B, Sekaran U (2001) Applied business research: qualitative and quantitative methods. Wiley, Milton, QLD

    Google Scholar 

  • Clutterbuck D (2004) How to get the payback from investment in work-life balance. J Qual Participation:17–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniel TA (2004) The exodus of women from the corporate workplace to self-owned business. Employ Relat Today 30(4):55–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson C, Henley A (2012) “Push” versus “pull” entrepreneurship: an ambiguous distinction? Int J Entrepreneurial Behav Res 18(6):697–719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Villiers Scheepers MJ, Verreynne M, Meyer D (2014) Entrepreneurial configurations of small firms. Int J Entrep Behav Res 20(6):562–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dex S, Scheibl F (2001) Flexible and family-friendly working arrangements in UK-based SMEs: business cases. Br J Ind Relat 39(3):411–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas EJ, Morris RJ (2006) Workaholic or just hard worker? Career Dev Int 11(5):394–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eikhof DR, Warhurst C, Haunschild A (2007) Introduction: what work? What life? What balance? Critical reflections on the work-life balance debate. Employee Relat 29(4):325–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekinsmyth C (2013) Managing the business of everyday life: the roles of space and place in “mumpreneurship”. Int J Entrep Behav Res 19(5):525–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans JM (2000) Firms contribution to the reconciliation between work and family life. In: Draft paper prepared for the conference on families, labour markets, and the well-being of children, Vancouver, Canada, pp 1–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Ezzedeen SR (2004) Beyond work-family balance: advancing gender equity and workplace performance. Pers Psychol 57(2):495–499

    Google Scholar 

  • Felstead A (1994) Shifting the frontier of control: small firm autonomy within a franchise. Int Small Bus J 12(2):50–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forson C (2013) Contextualising migrant black business women’s work-life balance experiences. Int J Entrep Behav Res 19(5):460–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frazer L, Weaven S, Grace K (2014) Franchising Australia 2012. Griffith University, Brisbane

    Google Scholar 

  • Frazer L, Buchan J, Weaven S, Grace A (2015) The effectiveness of undertaking due diligence prior to starting up or purchasing a small business or franchise. Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence, Griffith University and University of New South Wales, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerber ME (2001) The E myth revisited. Harper Collins, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Grace A, Frazer L, Weaven S, Dant R (2016) Building franchisee trust in their franchisor: insights from the franchise sector. Qual Mark Res Int J 19(1):65–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gummesson E (2000) Qualitative methods in management research, 2nd edn. Sage, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Hacker SK, Doolen TL (2003) Strategies for living: moving from the paradigm. Career Dev Int 8(6):283–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao Z, Siebert SE, Hills GE (2005) The mediating role of self-efficacy in the development of entrepreneurial intentions. J Appl Psychol 90(6):1265–1272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Healy M, Perry C (2000) Comprehensive criteria to judge validity and reliability of qualitative research within the realism paradigm. Qual Mark Res Int J 3(3):118–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helmle JR, Botero IC, Seibold DR (2014) San Diego. Factors that influence perceptions of work-life balance in owners of copreneurial firms. J Family Bus Manag 4(2):110–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill EJ, Miller BC, Weiner SP, Colihan J (1998) Influences of the virtual office on aspects of work and work/life balance. Pers Psychol 51:667–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes J, Bonzionelos N (2007) Work-life balance as a source of job dissatisfaction and withdrawal attitudes. An exploratory study on the views of male workers. Pers Rev 36(1):145–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde KF (2000) Recognising deductive processes in qualitative research. Qual Mark Res Int J 3(2):82–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyman J, Summers J (2004) Lacking balance? Work-life employment practices in the modern economy. Pers Rev 33(4):418–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann PJ (1999) Franchising and the choice of self-employment. J Bus Ventur 14:345–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinman G, Jones F (2008) Effort-reward imbalance, over-commitment and work-life conflict: testing and expanded model. J Manag Psychol 23(3):236–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis S (2003) The integration of paid work and the rest of life. Is post-industrial work the new leisure? Leis Stud 22(4):343–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis S, Rapoport R, Gambles R (2003) Reflections on the integration of paid work and the rest of life. J Manag Psychol 18(8):824–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell G, Rankine L, Bell S, andMacVicar A (2007) The incidence and impact of flexible working arrangements in smaller businesses. Employee Relat 29(2):138–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles MB, Huberman AM (1994) Qualitative data analysis. In: An expanded sourcebook, 2nd edn. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore F (2007) Work-life balance: contrasting managers and workers in an MNC. Employee Relat 29(4):385–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paswan AK, Young JA (1999) An exploratory examination of the relationship between channel support mechanisms and relational norms in an international context. J Bus Ind Mark 14(5/6):445–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry C (1998) Processes of a case study methodology for post graduate research in marketing. Eur J Mark 32(9/10):785–802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter G (2004) Work, work ethic, work excess. J Organ Change Manag 17(5):424–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posig M, Kickul J (2004) Work-role expectations and gender work family conflict: gender differences in emotional exhaustion. Women Manag Rev 19(7):373–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posner EA (2000) Agency models in law and economics. John M. Olin Law and Economics Working Paper No 92. The Law School, University of Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Protta D (2008) Do the self-employed value autonomy more that employees? Research across four samples. Career Dev Int 13(1):33–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert K (2007) Work-life balance- the sources of the contemporary problem and the probable outcomes. A review and interpretation of the evidence. Employee Relat 29(4):334–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seawright KW, Smith IA, Mitchell RK, McClendon R (2011) Exploring entrepreneurial cognition in franchisees: a knowledge-structure approach. Entrep Theory Pract 37(2):201–227. Baylor University

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan A, Conway L (2001) Workplace flexibility: reconciling the needs of employers and employees. Women Manag Rev 16(1):5–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith CR (2000) Managing work and family in small “copreneurial” business: an Australian study. Women Manag Rev 15(5/6):283–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobh R, Perry C (2006) Research design and data analysis in realism research. Eur J Mark 40(11/12):1194–1209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson J (2004) Perceptions and negotiations of the “business case” for flexible careers and the integration of part-time work. Women Manag Rev 19(8):413–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Towers I, Duxbury L, Higgins C, Thomas J (2006) Time thieves and space invaders: technology, work and the organisation. J Organ Change 19(5):593–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Geldren M, Jansen P (2006) Autonomy as a start-up motive. J Small Bus Enterprise Dev 13(1):23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker E, Wang C, Redmond J (2008) Women and work-life balance: is home-based business ownership the solution? Equal Oppor Int 27(3):258–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weaven S, Frazer L (2006) Investment incentives for single and multiple unit franchisees. Qual Mark Res Int J 9(3):225–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wise S, Bond S (2003) Work-life policy: does it do exactly what it says on the tin? Women Manag Rev 18(1/2):20–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin K (2003) Case study research – design and methods. Sage, Thousand Oaks

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Park Thaichon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Young, R., Frazer, L., Weaven, S., Roussety, M., Thaichon, P. (2019). Work Hard, Play Hard: Work-Life Balance in Small Business. In: Ratten, V., Jones, P., Braga, V., Marques, C.S. (eds) Subsistence Entrepreneurship. Contributions to Management Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11542-5_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics