Working from home, job satisfaction and work–life balance – robust or heterogeneous links?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz Bellmann ◽  
Olaf Hübler

PurposeIt is analyzed whether working from home improves or impairs the job satisfaction and the work–life balance and under which conditions.Design/methodology/approachBlocks of influences on job satisfaction and work–life balance – personal traits, job characteristics, skills and employment properties – are estimated separately and in combination. To select the variables, the least angle regression is applied. The entropy balancing approach is used to determine causal effects. The study investigates whether imbalances are determined by private or job influences, whether firm-specific regulations and the selected control group affect the results and whether it only takes place during leisure time.FindingsNo clear effects of remote work on job satisfaction are revealed, but the impact on work–life balance is generally negative. If the imbalance is conditioned by private interests, this is not corroborated in contrast to job conditioned features. Employees working from home are happier than those who want to work at home, job satisfaction is higher and work–life balance is not worse under a strict contractual agreement than under a nonbinding commitment.Originality/valueA wide range of personality traits, skills, employment properties and job characteristics are incorporated as determinants. The problem of causality is investigated. It is analyzed whether the use of alternative control and treatment groups leads to different results. The empirical investigation is based on new German data with three waves.

Author(s):  
Maureen Snow Andrade ◽  
Jonathan H. Westover

Purpose Job satisfaction has positive outcomes for individuals and organizations. These include decreased turnover and conflict, increased productivity, improved work quality and creativity and innovation. Determinants entail work–life balance, advancement and development opportunities, relationships with co-workers and managers, working conditions and intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, among others. Understanding these determinants across workers and contexts is critical for effective management and the achievement of organizational goals. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This study, based on data from the International Social Survey Program, examines the impact of various aspects of work-life balance, rewards and work relations on job satisfaction across occupations. Findings Findings indicate more differences than similarities among countries and occupations with workers in managerial and professional positions experiencing the highest job satisfaction levels. Originality/value Although extensive research has documented the benefits and determinants of job satisfaction, it has not focused on global comparisons across occupational categories.


Economies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Dodi Wirawan Irawanto ◽  
Khusnul Rofida Novianti ◽  
Kenny Roz

Coronavirus (COVID-19), which hit in early 2020, changed the way people live and work, and affected industries and organizations all over the world. Many organizations have begun to deliver a new way of working to adapt to these shifts effectively using teleworking or a work from home policy. The purpose of this study was to fill the gaps by investigating several potential predictors of job satisfaction during working from home from the impact of COVID-19 such as work–life balance and work stress. Using a quantitative approach, 472 workers who were forced to work from home all over Indonesia participated, and the responses were analyzed using Smart-PLS software. The study revealed that working from home, work–life balance, and work stress have a significant effect, both directly and indirectly, on job satisfaction. Working from home as a new pace of work can sustain job satisfaction as the current working atmosphere for Indonesian workers. In response to the collectivist setting, working from home can be a positive sign that needs to be paid attention to for the organization.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Paul Cain ◽  
Lisa Nicole Cain ◽  
James A. Busser ◽  
Hee Jung (Annette) Kang

PurposeThis study sought to understand how having a calling influenced engagement, work–life balance and career satisfaction for Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) and Golf Course Superintendent of America (GCSA) professionals.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model was used to examine callings among golf course supervisors and its impact on their engagement, work–life balance and career satisfaction. This study also explored the moderation effect of employees’ generalized or specialized role on the calling–engagement relationship. Surveys were collected from a single golf management company and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis.FindingsThe results revealed significant relationships among all of the variables, with the exception of the impact of having a calling on work–life balance. Additionally, the more having a calling increased, the more important it was for supervisors to have specialized roles to increase their engagement.Originality/valueThis study identifies important differences in factors that promote career satisfaction for golf course supervisors and extends current understanding of role theory.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jahanvash Karim ◽  

Purpose: - The impact of work-life balance on work-related outcomes has been the focus of much attention by researchers in organizational behavior and psychology. The aim of this study was to extend this literature by examining the potential moderating effect of religiosity on the relationship between satisfaction with work-life balance and job satisfaction. Methodology/Sample: - Data from The European Social Survey (ESS Round 6 Edition 1.2) provided the basis for this study (N= 21621). Findings: - Results suggested that satisfaction with work-life balance was positively related to job satisfaction and religiosity fostered the effect of satisfaction with work-life balance on job satisfaction. Practical Implications:- The findings of this study suggest that religiosity holds relevance to a variety of work outcomes. Faith and involvement in religious activities act as a personal resource, making individuals more resilient to cope with the challenges arising from work-life imbalance.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumari Rashmi ◽  
Aakanksha Kataria

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a clear view of current dynamics and research diversification of extant literature in the field of work-life balance (WLB). This paper provides a systematic and critical analysis of WLB literature using bibliometric analysis.Design/methodology/approach Scopus database has been used for carrying out this review that is based on 945 research papers published from 1998 to 2020. The prominence of the research is assessed by studying the publication trend, sample statistics, theoretical foundation, the highly cited research articles and journals, most commonly used keywords, research themes of top four recognized clusters, sub-themes within each cluster and thematic overview of WLB corpus formed on the premise of bibliographic coupling. Additionally, content analysis of recently published papers revealed emerging research patterns and potential gaps.Findings Major findings indicate that the research area consists of four established and emerging research themes based on clusters formed as (1) flexible work arrangements, (2) gender differences in WLB, (3) work–life interface and its related concepts, and (4) WLB policies and practices. Emerging themes identified through content analysis of recent articles include gender discrepancy, the impact of different forms of contextual (situational) factors and organizational culture.Originality/value This research paper is the first of its kind on the subject of WLB as it provides multifariousness of study fields within the WLB corpus by using varied bibliographic mapping approaches. It also suggests viable avenues for future research.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saarce Elsye Hatane ◽  
Bernard Emerson ◽  
Olievia Soesanto ◽  
Ruth Arum Gunawan ◽  
Hatane Semuel

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to discover the impact of work–life balance on the intention to pursue accounting careers through accounting career image.Design/methodology/approachThe study managed to collect 693 closed questionnaires, using the five-point Likert Scale, from accounting students in several universities in Java, Sulawesi and Kalimantan, as the three most densely populated islands in Indonesia. The research model is analysed using partial least square method as a part of structural equation modelling.FindingsThere are positive and significant influences between work–life balance and the intention to pursue accounting career when supported by accounting career image. The positive perception of accounting career image motivates accounting students to pursue accounting careers. Accounting students argue that attaining a balance between work and personal life can improve positive perceptions of accounting careers, which drive them to pursue a career in accounting. Work–life balance is an essential factor due to the fact that it can, directly and indirectly, affect the intention to pursue accounting careers. In addition, positive image of accounting profession is found to be able to strengthen the positive influence of the work–life balance to pursue accounting careers.Research limitations/implicationsFurther studies can continue along the line of this study as the intention to choose an accounting career can change from time to time. In addition, the generational difference may create a discrepancy in perception and orientation in choosing accounting careers. Therefore, future studies should consider a broader scope and more updated objects.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that working experience is an essential part for accounting students in choosing accounting careers, and so higher education institutions need to consider including field work-practice in their curriculums. Companies are also expected to prioritise work–life balance since it will motivate accounting students to choose an accounting career.Originality/valueThis study investigates the link between work–life balance and decisions to pursue accounting careers through accounting students' perceptions in Indonesia. This study combines the influences of work–life balance and accounting career image on the intention to pursue accounting careers in one model, in which accounting career image is the mediating variable in the indirect link of work–life balance.


Author(s):  
Sneha Shankar Shetty

This study is based on how does work from home impacts employee’s productivity in IT sector. The main aim of this particular study was to conduct an in depth research in order to understand the experiences of employees which they had while working from home and to understand whether there was any effect of working from home on employees productivity. Exploratory and Descriptive Research was conducted which was carried through questionnaire. This approach was taken in order to collect employee’s opinions and experiences and to observe if there were any trends emerged in relation to employee’s productivity while working from home. The study reveals that there is a significant impact of work from home on employee’s productivity level. Despite there were mixed opinions whether employees performance was low or high while working from home, however employees also shared their opinions on how their productivity levels be affected negatively if working from home was removed. Overall it was clear to observe the high level of positivity surrounding due to work from home and how it impacted positively not only on employee’s productivity but also on employee’s work life balance, job satisfaction, occupational stress and motivation of employees.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Snow Andrade ◽  
Jonathan H Westover ◽  
Bernd A Kupka

Prior research has indicated that the nature of work has changed dramatically in recent years in response to economic shifts and an increasingly global economy. In part, this shift has resulted in a greater efficacy of various work-life balance and worker schedule flexibility elements in the experiences of employees in the workplace. However, little is known about the overall comparative quality of work and job satisfaction around the world in response to a shifting and increasingly interconnected global economy. In this study, we use non-panel longitudinal data from the most recent wave of the International Social Survey Program (Work Orientations IV, 2015) to conduct an exploratory comparative analysis of the impact of various workplace conditions, job characteristics, and employee attitudes in relation to comparative job satisfaction across the globe, with a special focus on the role of work-life balance and worker scheduling flexibility. Employees across the globe respond quite differently to work scenarios, which poses challenges for companies operating in multiple countries, requires adjustments to human resource practices to optimize performance levels of employees and reduce turnover expenses, and should caution managers to scrutinize their procedures to adjust to new demands in the workplace. This study adds value by making global comparisons of various workplace factors and their impact on job satisfaction using a database reflecting practices in 37 countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2243-2263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi ◽  
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke ◽  
Toyin Deborah Adeneye ◽  
Richard Ajayi Jimoh

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the mediating role of organisational commitment in the relationship between work‒life balance (WLB) and organisational performance of female construction professionals in the Nigerian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study empirically examined WLB of female professionals in medium- and large-sized Nigerian construction organisations. The data collected were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between WLB and organisational commitment, and that organisational commitment mediates the impact of WLB on organisational performance.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of this research is the cross-sectional nature of the study and the nature of data collected, which is related to female gender. Efforts should, therefore, be made to further this study by examining the impact of WLB on both male and female professionals in construction.Originality/valueThis paper presents an empirical research on the significance of family-friendly initiatives within construction organisations in Nigerian context, and the results of the study have implications for industry practitioners and academics.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document