Factors of work-family conflict in the hospitality industry in Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACTWork-family conflict, a common problem faced by employees in all sectors of the economy, is more intense in the hospitality industry due to the nature of the job. Satisfying hotel guests at all times, maintaining the job, and attending to family are but a few of everyday thoughts of a hotel employee. The occurrence of work-family conflict has been linked to various factors both work-related and family-related. This study profiled hotel employees, identified factors influencing work-family conflict and examined their relative importance. Data gathered from 177 hotel employees were used. The results suggest that young workers, less than 35 years old who are fairly educated dominate the industry. It is also noted that employees work almost all days of the week and the jobs are mainly countercyclical. The exploratory factor analysis also suggests that five factors, including the type of job, time commitment, spousal support, and family demands influence the occurrence of work-family conflict. However, job type and spousal support best predict the occurrence of work-family conflict. Implications of the results are further deliberated and future research suggestions are presented in the study.