Work-family enrichment: Sharing Malaysians’ experiences

Zaiton HassanMaureen DollardTony Winefield

Work and Stress Research GroupCenter for Applied Psychological Research

University of South Australia

Introduction

Work-family enrichment refers to positive experiences gained from resources in one role which improve performance in another role, either directly or indirectly through instrumental or affective paths (Carlson et al., 2006).

Most research came from Western developed countries’ perspectives

Definition

WORK FAMILY

Enrichment

WFE

FWE

Objectives1. To examine both directions of enrichment

(WFE and FWE) to satisfaction (job, family, community and life)

2. To examine relationship between demographic characteristics and enrichment

3. To examine relationship between collectivist characteristics and enrichment

Enrichment and satisfaction

Work-family enrichment and work-family conflict are two different constructs that can exist simultaneously (Gryzwacz & Marks, 2000)

Has different antecedents and outcomes from conflict, usually in opposite direction of conflict (Hill, 2005)

Same domain effect. E.g. WFE positive to job satisfaction, FWE to family satisfaction. Both positive to life satisfaction (Aryee etal.,2005; Wayne et al., 2006)

Hypothesis

H1a: WFE will be positively related to job and life satisfaction

H1b : FWE will be positively related to family, community and life satisfaction

Usual demographics characteristics examine in work-family study

RQ1 Based on demographic characteristics (gender, age, highest education, number of children at home, marital status, household chores hours and working hours) which groups of respondents will report higher WFE and FWE?

‘God is important’ in Muslim countries (Triandis,2006). Malaysians are religious (Ahmad, 1996)

RQ2 Based on collectivist variables (elderly care, length of stay in area, number of own and spouse’s relatives living nearby, importance of religion and perception of religiousness) which groups of respondents will report higher WFEand FWE?

Participants:

506 (Time 1) executives, non - executives. married, single, male and female. Survey.

Agencies: 3 government and 3 private sectors

Measure: WFE - Carlson et al., 2006, Alpha .67 to .92

Procedures : Through HR managers

Stats: Pearson Correlation, One way ANOVA, SEM

KUALA LUMPUR

http://www.virtualmalaysia.comKUCHING

Method

Sample enrichment items

Work to Family Enrichment (WFE)My involvement in my work helps me to understand different viewpoints and this helps me to be a better family member.My involvement in my work puts me in a good mood and this helps me to a better family member

Family to Work Enrichment (FWE)

My involvement in my family requires me to avoid wasting time and this helps me to be a better worker.My involvement in my family helps me acquire skills and this helps me to be a better worker

Results : DemographicsMale (56%)

Non‐executives (74%)35 to 55 years old (63%)

Married (78%)1 to 9 children (74%)

11 yrs education (32%)Bachelors degree (20%)

Malay (44%)Other Bumiputra (33%)

Chinese (22%)

Muslim (50%)Christian (38%)Buddhist (9%)

Religion is important (74%)

Religious (72%)

More than 16 own relatives (50%)

Spouse’s  relatives (49%)

WFE

• M = 3.85• Age (r=.10*)

FWE

• M = 4.23• Own relatives (r=.11*)

• Spouse relatives (r=.11*)

Both

• Elder care (r=.10*, .11*)

• Importance of religion (r=.22**, .16**)

• Religious (r=.24**,.16**)

• All satisfactions

One Way ANOVA

Ethnic group : Malay (WFE and FWE)Religion : Muslim (WFE and FWE)Age : 45-55 years old (WFE)

Religion

FWE

WFE

Life

Community

Family

Job

Chi sq= 131.83Chi sq/df= 2.99

CFI= .94TLI = .89

RMSEA =.06

.29

.20

.18

.23

.25

.23

DiscussionHigher enrichment (WFE and FWE):1. Malay ethnic, Muslim, age 45-55 years old 2. Believed religion is important in life and

perceived themselves as religion

Religion as an effective coping skills; satisfactory life to ‘generosity of God’ (Noor, 1999)

FWE higher than WFE, similar to other Western studies (e.g. Hill, 2005)Value or self concept is more strongly associated with family than work, positive spillover from family to work is more likely to occur (Carlson et al., 2006) Strengthen the importance of ‘family’ in a collectivist society. Including extended family and relatives.May explain family and community satisfaction

WFE and job satisfaction. Same domain effect (Carlson et al., 2006; Haar & Bardoel, 2008)When work resources could lead to better family functioning, more satisfied with job.In collectivist context, family prosperity is important and work is one of the ways to achieve it.E.g. In Malaysia: send salary to family (Ariffin, 1994), women work for family’s economy instead of self interest (Noor, 1999).

ConclusionSimilar to Western studies:

1. FWE higher than WFE2. Same domain effect (WFE to job satisfaction; FWE to family satisfaction)

Different from Western studies:Usual demographic characteristics did not correlate with enrichmentAspects of religion are important to enrichment

Project ‘Work-life balance among Malaysians’ employees’ has have been selected for inclusion in the overall compendium of activities for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Plan of Action 2008-2012

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