Work-Life Balance and Well-Being in Public Practice Accounting

A common problem among accountants, and the vast majority of pro-fessionals, is feeling "stressed" and overwhelmed. Research suggests that lack of work-life balance and unhealthy work environments are two major stress sources. A review of relevant literature examines the relationship between work-life balance and a healthy work environ-ment, and increased well-being. Real-life stories of accountants in public practice reveal eight themes that capture the effect of these two factors within the context of an individuals life and beliefs. Analysis of these themes leads to an individualized perspective on what constitutes well-being, how to assess this, and how to achieve it. The study concludes with recommendations for promoting awareness of, and taking action to address, work-life balance issues. This study will be helpful for accountants and other professionals who have an interest in improved well-being. It will also be useful for organizational leaders who want to empower their employees to make positive changes in their lives, which, not surprisingly will in-crease the likelihood of some nice benefits, namely, increased produc-tivity and employee satisfaction and allegiance.