Bowen, P; Govender, R; Edwards, P and Cattell, K (2017) The role of after-hours, work-related contact in work-to-family conflict and sleep problems experienced by construction professionals. In: Chan, P W and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 33rd Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2017, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract
Advances in communication technology have resulted in the boundaries between work and family becoming increasingly blurred, resulting in increased after-hours, work-related contact. Little is known about the relationship between after-hours, work-related contact and the work-to-family conflict and sleep problems experienced by construction professionals. Using data gathered from a questionnaire survey of 630 architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and project and construction managers, a conceptual integrated model of work-to-family conflict and sleep problems was proposed and tested using structural equation analysis. Demographic characteristics, work experience, job autonomy and control, job pressures, and after-hours work-related contact were hypothesized to explain work-to-family conflict and sleep problems. The integrated model was found to be empirically plausible (χ2 /df ratio=1.439; p=0.119; CFI=0.994; RMSEA=0.026; and Hoelter (95%)=729). The results indicate that 1) the determinants of work contact are gender, employment status, work experience, and job pressure; 2) work-to-family conflict is predicted by job autonomy and control, job pressure, and work contact, and 3) sleep problems are a consequence of job pressure, work contact, and work-to-family conflict. Both firms and construction professionals need to improved boundary control to limit excessive work contact and/or mitigate its effects on work pressure and work-to family conflict. Intervention strategies by firms should positively address after-hours, work-related communication and employers need to monitor job pressure, and promote job autonomy and control.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | after hours work contact; work-to-family conflict; sleep problems; construction professionals; South Africa |
| Index terms: | construction professional, questionnaire, construction manager, architect, South Africa, determinant, boundaries, quantity surveying, integrated model, sleep problem, becoming, engineer, employment, work contact, survey, intervention strategy |
| Subjects: | analytical methods, property law, risk assessment, profession, data collection methods, health conditions and diseases, philosophical process, management, financial risk, professional development, Geography |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Human Resources, Organizational Design, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Information Management, Roles and Professions, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here