How management of family life could benefit workplace skills
The challenges of everyday family life can become laboratories wherein the skills of tomorrow are forged. (Envato Elements pic)
PARIS : For many, managing daily life can feel like a logistical feat. But, while long perceived as duties that lead to stress and exhaustion, family responsibilities could prove to be an unexpected asset in the professional sphere.
An international research team spent six weeks following 147 dual-income couples, all of whom were parents and full-time employees. Their aim was to understand how family organisation can influence work performance.
The findings are surprising: while juggling family life and professional obligations can feel like a daily struggle, those who develop coping strategies fare better than others. Scientists have dubbed this dynamic 'strategic renewal'.
It manifests itself in many ways in everyday family life: reorganising childcare arrangements, arranging living spaces to optimise teleworking, creating quiet areas dedicated to concentration, setting up shared schedules, or introducing screen-free times to strengthen family bonds, for example.
By regaining control over their domestic organisation, parents can develop confidence and strategic approaches that directly benefit their professional lives and make them more creative in the face of change.
'These kinds of deliberate, future-oriented adjustments enable families to respond flexibly to changing demands,' study co-author Siqi Wang explained. 'They build confidence, reduce stress, and enhance overall functioning at home and at work.'
These findings take on particular resonance given the current trend for hybrid working. 'As hybrid and flexible work models become the norm, the boundaries between home and work continue to blur,' said co-author Yasin Rofcanin. 'It's important that employers recognise how home dynamics influence workplace performance.'
Published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, this study suggests that companies can amplify these benefits by rethinking their managerial approaches.
The researchers recommend investing in programmes that include training on work-family dynamics and flexible work arrangements. Wellness programmes, counselling services, and assistance with family caregiving can also play a key role.
All of this has the potential to shake up traditional perceptions of work-life balance. Rather than viewing these two worlds as opposing forces, this approach reveals their potential for synergy.
As a result, the challenges of everyday family life can become laboratories wherein the skills of tomorrow are forged. For working parents, this offers a new perspective: their efforts to organise their home life are not a waste of time, but rather an investment in their professional development.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Germany plans extra €1.9bil in military aid to Kyiv
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the two countries would jointly develop 'long-range weapons systems'. (AP pic) KYIV : Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said Thursday the government in Berlin was planning another tranche of military aid for Kyiv this year, as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine. Germany was set to approve another €1.9 billion of military support for Ukraine, Pistorius said in a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. The new aid package 'hasn't been finalised yet, but it is being lined up', he said, adding that the funds would be available 'in the coming weeks and months once the decision has been made in parliament'. The extra money would bring Germany's total support for Ukraine to around nine billion euros this year, Pistorius said. Berlin had already earmarked some seven billion euros in aid for Ukraine. The funding boost would be used to finance a German-backed plan for Ukraine to produce its own long-range weapons, the minister indicated. Chancellor Friedrich Merz last month said the two countries would jointly develop 'long-range weapons systems'. The government in Berlin has long been under pressure to supply weapons that Ukrainian forces could use to hit targets deep within Russia territory, as other Western allies have done. In particular, Kyiv had been keen to get German-made Taurus missiles, which have a range of over 500km. The previous German government in Berlin led by former chancellor Olaf Scholz had however refused Taurus deliveries for fear an escalation in tensions with Russia. New chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously signalled support for deliveries of Taurus but has not brought about a change in the government's position since taking office last month. More recently Merz has refused to address the issue, citing a policy of 'strategic ambiguity'. Pistorius, questioned on Thursday whether Germany was currently considering sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, said 'my answer is no'.
Malay Mail
19 hours ago
- Malay Mail
PolyU startups showcase innovation and entrepreneurial achievements at London Tech Week 2025
PolyU participated in the world-renowned London Tech Week 2025 held from 9 to 11 June in London, UK. Group photo of Prof. Christopher Chao, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) (front row, 5th from right), PolyU delegation and Ms Daisy IP, Head of Investment Promotion of InvestHK London (front row, 2nd from right). PolyU Startup Founder(s) Introduction Advantage Data Vision Limited Prof. Lawrence Wing Chi CHAN Associate Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics; and Director, Advantage Data Vision Limited The startup has leveraged massive real‑world, multi‑omics datasets and patented AI algorithms to create a cloud‑based platform that accurately predicts patients' response to cancer immunotherapy. The deep‑learning engine guides clinicians, optimises hospital resources, reduces adverse events and accelerates pharmaceutical trials through precise patient stratification and risk assessment, delivering tangible value worldwide. Light-weight Technologies Limited Prof. Jianguo LIN Chair Professor of Materials Technologies, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Co-founder and Chairman, Light-weight Technologies Limited Dr Qingsong WENG Research Associate, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Light-weight Technologies Limited The startup uses their globally unique light alloy manufacturing technologies, such as advanced hot stamping and extrusion techniques, with its self-developed smart industrial software and advanced simulation platform to produce ultra-thin, ultra-wide light alloy profiles and complex curved profiles that are unattainable with existing manufacturing processes. The startup provides high-strength, lightweight, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions that enable energy saving and emission reduction for the automotive, aerospace, railway, marine, and other engineering sectors, gaining wide recognition from leading global OEMs. UbiquiTech Innovations Limited Prof. Jiannong CAO Dean, Graduate School; Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science; Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing; Director, Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things; Director, University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics; and Co-founder and Chief Scientist, UbiquiTech Innovations Limited Dr Zhixuan LIANG PolyU GBA Postdoctoral Fellow; and Chief Executive Officer, UbiquiTech Innovations Limited The startup is committed to the intersection of robotics, AI and smart city solutions, with a view to developing cutting-edge autonomous robots designed to address complex challenges in modern urban and industrial environments. viAct Mr Gary Chun-kui NG Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, viAct Mr Hugo CHEUK Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, viAct viAct is a pioneer in AI monitoring technology dedicated to enhancing safety and efficiency in heavy industries such as construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing. The startup made it onto Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list in 2022. Its leading, globally deployed technology "Scenario-based Vision Intelligence", was showcased at renowned international events such as the World Economic Forum. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 12 June 2025 - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) took part in the world-renowned London Tech Week 2025 held from 9 to 11 June in London, UK, as the only participating university from Hong Kong. Four PolyU startups showcased their ground-breaking innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing technologies and healthcare solutions. The event attracted business leaders, industry experts and investors from around the world, providing the PolyU startups with valuable opportunities to explore potential collaborations and establish is committed to translating cutting-edge research into impactful solutions that address real-world challenges. Below are introductions to the four PolyU the event's panel discussion themed "Creating the Future from Campus: Why are University Spinouts so Important for Innovation?",, shared his insights into knowledge transfer, the nurturing of university spinouts, and the support and resources available to PolyU startups. Prof. Chao remarked, "Supported by PolyU's signature startup ecosystem,, our startups are spearheading translational innovations that generate long-lasting global societal impact. Our ecosystem not only provides invaluable development opportunities but also fosters the international growth of our entrepreneurs. I am delighted to see PolyU startups shine at London Tech Week, inspiring global audiences with their creativity and determination to make a difference."This year, the London Tech Week attracted over 45,000 participants from more than 90 countries, including startups, technology giants, investors and innovators. The event provided a platform for startups to engage in person with venture capitalists, corporate investors and angel investors; promote their solutions on dedicated stages; connect with industry leaders at the forefront of innovation; and gain valuable insights from successful entrepreneurs who have expanded globally. For more information, please visit the event website Hashtag: #PolyU The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
From fishing family to Big Tech, French CEO takes on Silicon Valley
Joining Instacart in 2021, Fidji Simo inherited a company that had been bleeding money for a decade. (Getty Images pic) NEW YORK : At just 39 years old, Fidji Simo is poised to become OpenAI's second-in-command after leaving her mark at two other major tech firms, including Meta. Reporting directly to CEO Sam Altman, the move to the ChatGPT-maker represents the latest chapter in a career that has taken Simo from a fishing family in France's Mediterranean port of Sete to the heights of Silicon Valley. As the current CEO of grocery delivery platform Instacart, she cuts a unique profile, a French woman in the male-dominated American tech landscape, who resists advice to blend in. 'I can put all my energy trying to be someone else, or I can be myself and pour all of that energy into what I can create,' she told CNBC in February. This philosophy will likely be on display when she appears today at the VivaTech conference in Paris. Raised in Sete, Simo attended the elite HEC business school before joining eBay in 2006, first in France then in California. 'People expect a very business-like story for why I decided to come to the US. It wasn't. The American Dream was on TV every night and that was an incredibly appealing thing,' she said. 'Never Intimidated' In 2011, Simo joined Facebook, now Meta. She was given responsibility for video and monetisation in 2014, a role she considers the defining moment of her career. Simo championed the company's pivot to video, which became central to Meta's strategy despite initial internal skepticism. 'She never let herself be intimidated,' recalled David Marcus, who worked at Meta alongside Simo and now serves as CEO of online payment company Lightspark. 'She had an ability to challenge Mark (Zuckerberg) and push him, when others would have hesitated,' Marcus said. Joining Instacart in 2021, Simo inherited a company that had been bleeding money for a decade. Under her leadership, the grocery delivery platform achieved profitability in 2022 through aggressive diversification, including data monetisation, expanded retail partnerships and a robust advertising business. Now Simo faces her biggest test yet. As OpenAI's number two, she'll free up CEO Altman to focus on research and infrastructure while she tackles the company's operational challenges. Despite being one of history's most highly funded startups and ChatGPT's phenomenal success, OpenAI is burning cash at an alarming rate. The company has also weathered significant leadership turnover, including Altman's own brief ouster and reinstatement in 2023, raising questions about management stability. But French investor Julien Codorniou, who worked alongside Simo at Facebook, said she will more than rise to the occasion. 'Fidji's arrival is a declaration of ambition by OpenAI,' he said.
