Work?Family Triangle Synchronization ? Employee, manager, and spouse

"I need to check with my partner" is a common response of an employee to his manager, emphasizing the tug of war between the employee?s spouse and the workplace.

The challenges in the fields of work and family have been the focus of researchers for decades. Frameworks for work?family conflict, work?family enrichment, and work?family balance have been put forth in light of the complexity of the interface. Yet the relationship between the three stakeholders managing the interface (manager, employee, and spouse), has not received the attention it deserves.

Work?Family Triangle Synchronization takes a holistic look into the triangle of forces involved in the conflict: the manager, the employee, and the employee?s spouse at home. Using the therapeutic triangle relationship framework, it elaborates on the dynamic of work?family triangles and offers a structured process for designing a psychological contract among the three players. This process is termed work?family triangle synchronization (WFTS).

Based on the authors? 20 years of academic research and field experience in the organizational and family domains this book introduces a novel synchronization model, methodology, and compelling tools. Personal anecdotes and stories make the text accessible and understandable, accompanying the reader step by step in the task of developing a synchronized work?family triangle psychological contract, as both a diagnostic and a management tool.

In Work?Family Triangle Synchronization, Anat Garti and Shay Tzafrir offer an exciting new lens through which to understand and manage the work?family interface. . . . A gem of a book that will appeal to students, faculty, practitioners, and policy makers.

--Jeffrey H. Greenhaus, Professor Emeritus, Drexel University???

I have read Garti and Tzafrir?s new book with enthusiasm and high expectations. Work and family life are the core experiences that all of us have or will undergo. This thoroughly researched book presents work-life balance in a fresh, innovative and realistic way ? the triangle angle, that also involves our life partner. This book is a must for every professional in whatever field of expertise they are involved. I highly recommend reading it, learning from it and applying some of its suggested principles to engage in a better quality of life.

--Professor Simon L. Dolan, Former ESADE Chair in the Future of Work, President ? The Global Future of Work Foundation

One of the must-read titles on every list for any leader and working couple interested in understanding the challenges of work and family interaction . . .Professor Tzafrir and Dr. Garti raise a distinct and innovative angle on the very timely topic of work-family mechanisms . . . challenging leaders in the organization to make significant and proactive changes in the interaction and structure of work and family systems at the individual, team, and organizational levels.

--Dr. Rachel Gabel Shemueli, Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, Perú; international OB consultant

This book is a valuable guide and reference to those seeking innovative and challenging insights to the common situation of work-family interface. . . . It is rich with new and relevant knowledge including theory, empirical data and practical strategies pertinent for researchers, scholars, students, managers, employees, organization consultants and more.

--Prof. Ruth Katz, Emerita, University of Haifa