How Flexible Work Arrangements Affect Organizational Commitment, and Work-Life Enrichment in Pakistan’s Service Industry: The Role of Time Planning, Work-Life Conflict, and Engagement

Abstract

Balancing work and life responsibilities is now encouraged, in organizations across countries and cultures. Moreover, amidst the current ‘pandemic’ status of widespread disease COVID-19, it becomes essential for businesses to operate remotely as many have started to. Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are provided by organizations in response to these challenges. The purpose of this study is to focus on explaining how the usage of flexible working arrangements induce affective organizational commitment as well as helps to achieve Work-life Enrichment. For this, we proposed a theoretical framework hypothesizing that FWAs reduce work-life conflicts as well as make employees more engaged. The effect of FWAs on these two is also complemented by better time planning. Reduction of conflicts and enhanced engagement would in turn increase affective organizational commitment and Work-life Enrichment. Empirical validity was established by conducting a survey using a close-ended questionnaire. Data was collected from 300 service sector employees in Pakistan and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structured equation modeling. The results suggested that flexible working arrangements are positively and significantly related to Affective Organizational Commitment, Employee Engagement, and Work-life Enrichment, whereas negatively and significantly affect Work-Life Conflict. Moreover, Employee Engagement also positively affects both enrichment and commitment. Surprisingly, Work-Life Conflict seems to positively affect Work-Life Enrichment. Time Planning seems to negatively complement the effect of FWAs on Work-Life Conflict whereas, positively affect Engagement. This study concludes that the positive attitudinal outcomes that are generated by simply providing flexible work options by incorporating more family-friendly policies, increase effectiveness, and business success continuity.