Conciliação trabalho-família

: um estudo qualitativo com trabalhadores especializados na área da Consultoria Fiscal

Abstract

Inserted in a line of investigation concerning time organization and management and the conciliation between life and work, this study analyzed the impact of work in the familiar circle of individuals with a particularly demanding job. The aim was to discover the role that gender and organizational culture played in the work-family balance, as well as the effect of the parental agent. The investigation was developed with specialized workers in the field of tax consulting, from an audit firm which belongs to the Big Four group. The methodology used was of a qualitative nature and the data collection was based on eight interviews conducted to both women and men (4 each). It was possible to understand the professional and personal reality of the participants, based on their perspectives, experiences and significances, through the data analysis. It was concluded that the flexibility and autonomy in work are enabling elements of the work-family balance. However, the availability and the responsibility inherent to this sort of job are elements which interfere with this relation. It is important to stress out the positive influence of the organizational culture in the way the work-family relation is managed. Unlike women, who faced the work-family conciliation in a lighter way, men showed a more negative perception of well-being. The individuals with children tend to experience more difficulties than those who don’t have children. With the progression in the hierarchical structure, the autonomy that is gained may promote a more favorable work-family balance. This investigation tends to be a contribute to the study area because it raises awareness to the reality of the workers of a particularly interesting area, in which the opportunities of a successful career coexist with the complicated task of finding a more or less satisfactory balance between work and family life.

Date of Award	13 Jun 2013
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Joana Fernandes (Supervisor)