Work-life support: the key to managers’ happiness
ISSN: 2040-8269
Article publication date: 27 August 2019
Issue publication date: 31 January 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Building on the conservation of resource theory, the authors posit work-life support as an essential resource for middle managers. This paper aims to explore the positive association between work-life support, positive emotion, job satisfaction and happiness. The paper also assesses the moderating role of work pressure on work-life support and positive emotion relationship on the one hand and flextime on positive emotion and job satisfaction on the other.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collected from 512 middle managers of small and medium-sized firms including manufacturing, service and finance sectors in Taiwan were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results reveal that work pressure strengthens the effect of work-life support on positive emotions, whereas time flexibility weakens the effect of positive emotion on job satisfaction. Work-life support positively influences happiness through the intervening variables of positive emotion and job satisfaction.
Practical implications
The paper highlights the importance of creating a positive work environment, as empowering middle managers with work-life support can help them handle work pressure and work-life conflict. The negative influence of flextime on positive emotion and job satisfaction highlights the need for effective handling of flextime.
Originality/value
This paper examines the work-life support and happiness of middle managers in the Chinese cultural context which has been under-explored. This paper expands the external validity of previous research results of Western samples by finding the positive influence of work pressure on work-life fit and positive emotion and negative influence of flextime on positive emotion and job satisfaction link.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan, for funding this project (MOST 106-2410-H-468-017).
Citation
Chen, M.-H., Krishna, S.M. and Yu, C.-Y. (2020), "Work-life support: the key to managers’ happiness", Management Research Review, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 166-184. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-09-2018-0341
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited