An Exploratory Analysis of Work-Life Balance Preference in the Case of Lebanese Students

For a modern organization, time represents a resource that needs optimization, rationalization and control, and most employees try to identify the modality to divide their time between work, family and personal development. Finding a balance between these influences an individual both on reaching professional goals and on his or her personal life. The aim of this empirical research is to identify certain characteristics or types of behaviour that must be considered in order to achieve a balance between personal life and career, which is essential for avoiding unwanted consequences such as decreasing employee performance, their motivation or difficulties in recruiting and retaining employees. The research methodology is based on a structured questionnaire, distributed within the faculties of the two most important Lebanese universities in order to analyse the preferences of students: personal life of a career. The findings show that most respondents in the sample expressed their desire to develop a career first and foremost. Though, after they graduate and they will have a stable and well paid job, most of the respondents stated they also want to establish a family. Moreover, they want to strike a balance between the two, to be able to carry out personal development activities or together with family members, but at the same time to be able to carry out their work responsibilities without depriving family members of their presence.