Work-life balance challenges that impact small service business owners in Auckland and Invercargill
SUBASHNI VEERAMUTHU
SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DR SANJEEV ACHARYA
SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DR CHANDRA SHARMA POUDYAL
NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Email: Sanjeev.acharya@sit.ac.nz
Abstract: This research investigates the work-life balance challenges impacting small service business owners in Auckland and Invercargill. The construct used for this research consists of the work-life balance (WLB) challenge, the impact of WLB challenges and the strategies used to overcome it. The data was collected from thirteen sole traders doing small service businesses, six participants in Auckland and seven participants in Invercargill. This research found that the WLB challenge exists for the small business owner, but the participants' perspective on the challenge differs. Their perspective determines the impact of the challenge on the participant's work and life domain. The study revealed that the small business owners face proper time management, strategic planning, business management skills, financial management, and personal and family time allocation, which are essential to maintaining a healthy WLB. The participants' main challenge was the unavailability of sick leave, the unavailability of substitute staffing, and customer retention.
Keywords: Work-life balance, small business owners, staff, customer retention, challenges of SME
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