Review of work–life interface: a systematic literature analysis

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to review the literature on work–life interface (WLI) studies conducted in India, including how cultural and institutional factors affect the work–life balance perception of Indian employees and how they differ from the west. Design/methodology/approach The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta analyses (PRISMA) framework was used to select studies included in this systematic review. Findings Employees in India prioritize their family first because of the collectivist culture as opposed to the west, where work forms the role of root identity. Further, it was found that institutional support in India is lower than in developed western countries, resulting in difficulty for Indian employees to balance their work and life domains. Additionally, methodological advancement and large-scale multilevel research are much needed in India, as research on work–life studies is still in its infancy. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to qualitative synthesis of PRISMA framework. Adopting more advanced “meta-analysis” techniques to review quantitative studies could result in more comprehensive and informative results. Originality/value Since 2009, there has been an increase in empirical studies conducted on work–life studies in India, but no systematic review has been conducted to understand the various theories and variables used by researchers. In this study, we developed a conceptual model to increase the theoretical knowledge of WLI constructs.