This seminar focused on work-life conflict research undertaken within construction industry – an industrial sector that employs many professional engineers and shares similar characteristics of other male-dominated industries.

Associate Professor Valerie Francis, a civil engineer, talked about her research includes mainly male samples in both professional and trade roles.  She talked about why work-life balance has become an issue, demonstrated that it was a problem in construction and engineering, highlighted some important linkages and their mental health implications and then focused on some possible solutions in project-based workplaces. 

While organisations can do much to assist employees, she maintained that individuals need to decide for themselves the value they place on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She concluded by outlining some of her current research investigating novel ways of mitigating the effects of work-life conflict.