Broadening the Scope of Work-Life Balance: Experiences of Australian Muslims

Abstract

This study explained in-depth, how Australian Muslim men, a component of the Muslim population in Australia conceptualised and experienced work-life balance. The study was guided by the interpretive qualitative approach that enabled a holistic and dynamic explanation. In-depth interviews with 20 men from a variety of cultural, social, economic and religious backgrounds were conducted. The findings suggested although the meaning and experience of work-life balance and imbalance was unique to each individual, common themes emerged, which participants shared in their meanings attributed to the construct. Five major themes emerged from the thematic analysis, which collectively explained the meaning of work-life balance from the perspectives of practicing Australian Muslim men in Brisbane. Of the five themes, religiosity and the role of religion in the men's lives were evident, impacting on their perceptions and experiences regarding work-life balance. By brining the voices of a largely neglected group of individuals, the study significantly added to body of literature on worklife balance and broadened its scope.