Abstract
Objective: The study examines the associations between two distinct forms of workplace flexibility—flexible schedules and working at home—and workers' well-being, with special attention to the distinct reasons for working at home and gender differences. Background: Workplace flexibility can be a key resource to manage work and family responsibilities. However, there are gaps in knowledge regarding the types of flexibility that provide either a benefit or disadvantage for workers. In particular, insufficient attention has been paid to different reasons employees have for working at home and their implications. Method: Using the General Social Survey, we created a pooled sample across the four waves of data (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014, N = 6,945). Workers' well-being was measured with job satisfaction, job stress, daily fatigue, and work-to-family conflict. Multivariate regression analysis and several sensitivity tests were conducted. Results: The study found benefits of flexible schedules for work-related well-being. Working at home as part of one's job had some benefits, but working at home to catch up on work had consistent disadvantages for worker well-being. Moreover, the ability to adjust start and end times of work and working at home to catch up on work were associated with elevated work-to-family conflict, particularly for female workers. Conclusion: The findings suggest the potential advantages and unintended consequences of different flexibility arrangements for workers, and these implications may differ by gender.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Marriage and Family |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Jan 1 2019 |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Anthropology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cite this
}
Workplace Flexibility and Worker Well-Being by Gender. / Kim, Jaeseung; Henly, Julia R.; Golden, Lonnie M.; Lambert, Susan J.
In: Journal of Marriage and Family, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Workplace Flexibility and Worker Well-Being by Gender
AU - Kim, Jaeseung
AU - Henly, Julia R.
AU - Golden, Lonnie M.
AU - Lambert, Susan J.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Objective: The study examines the associations between two distinct forms of workplace flexibility—flexible schedules and working at home—and workers' well-being, with special attention to the distinct reasons for working at home and gender differences. Background: Workplace flexibility can be a key resource to manage work and family responsibilities. However, there are gaps in knowledge regarding the types of flexibility that provide either a benefit or disadvantage for workers. In particular, insufficient attention has been paid to different reasons employees have for working at home and their implications. Method: Using the General Social Survey, we created a pooled sample across the four waves of data (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014, N = 6,945). Workers' well-being was measured with job satisfaction, job stress, daily fatigue, and work-to-family conflict. Multivariate regression analysis and several sensitivity tests were conducted. Results: The study found benefits of flexible schedules for work-related well-being. Working at home as part of one's job had some benefits, but working at home to catch up on work had consistent disadvantages for worker well-being. Moreover, the ability to adjust start and end times of work and working at home to catch up on work were associated with elevated work-to-family conflict, particularly for female workers. Conclusion: The findings suggest the potential advantages and unintended consequences of different flexibility arrangements for workers, and these implications may differ by gender.
AB - Objective: The study examines the associations between two distinct forms of workplace flexibility—flexible schedules and working at home—and workers' well-being, with special attention to the distinct reasons for working at home and gender differences. Background: Workplace flexibility can be a key resource to manage work and family responsibilities. However, there are gaps in knowledge regarding the types of flexibility that provide either a benefit or disadvantage for workers. In particular, insufficient attention has been paid to different reasons employees have for working at home and their implications. Method: Using the General Social Survey, we created a pooled sample across the four waves of data (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014, N = 6,945). Workers' well-being was measured with job satisfaction, job stress, daily fatigue, and work-to-family conflict. Multivariate regression analysis and several sensitivity tests were conducted. Results: The study found benefits of flexible schedules for work-related well-being. Working at home as part of one's job had some benefits, but working at home to catch up on work had consistent disadvantages for worker well-being. Moreover, the ability to adjust start and end times of work and working at home to catch up on work were associated with elevated work-to-family conflict, particularly for female workers. Conclusion: The findings suggest the potential advantages and unintended consequences of different flexibility arrangements for workers, and these implications may differ by gender.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076210907&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85076210907&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jomf.12633
DO - 10.1111/jomf.12633
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85076210907
JO - Journal of Marriage and Family
JF - Journal of Marriage and Family
SN - 0022-2445
ER -