ABSTRACT
Many factors determine the meaning of Quality of Work Life (QWL), one of which is work
environment. QWL consists of opportunities for active involvement in group working
arrangements or problem solving that are of mutual benefit to employees or employers, based on
labor management cooperation. This article reviews the meaning of QWL, analyses dimensions
of QWL, practices of QWL, techniques for improving QWL and judgment methods of QWL in
an organisation. The dimensions of QWL include health and wellbeing, job security, job
satisfaction, competence development and the balance between work and nonwork life.
Key words: Quality of Work Life, Job satisfaction, work life and non work life balance, career
development, Job involvement.
1. Introduction
Human resources play a very important role in success of an organization and thus, management
of human resource assumes importance. Many aspects affect the management of human
resources. One such aspect is Quality of Work Life (QWL). It is a philosophy, a set of principles, which holds that people are the most important resource in the organization as they are
trustworthy, responsible and capable of making valuable contribution and they should be treated
with dignity and respect . The elements that are relevant to an individual’s quality of work life
include the task, the physical work environment, social environment within the organization, administrative system and relationship between life on and off the job. QWL consists of
opportunities for active involvement in group working arrangements or problem solving that are
of mutual benefit to employees or employers, based on labor management cooperation. People
also conceive of QWL as a set of methods, such as autonomous work groups, job enrichment, and highinvolvement aimed at boosting the satisfaction and productivity of workers. It requires
employee commitment to the organization and an environment in which this commitment can
flourish. Thus, QWL is a comprehensive construct that includes an individual’s job related well being and the extent to which work experiences are rewarding, fulfilling and devoid of stress and
other negative personal consequences. Quality of work life has its roots in the theories of Maslow, Herzbeg and McGregor. The needs
for fulfillment as that of Abraham Maslow’s motivational theory of needs hierarchy are