Paradoxes in Tourism and Hospitality Sectors: From Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Conflict in Shift Work

Abstract

In the present research, we examine the relationship between shift work and work-to-family balance in the tourism and hospitality sectors. To answer this, the main research objective is to understand the implications of shift work on the work-to-family balance, specifically (1) to explore how the work and family life of shift workers are reconciled between both, (2) to know the shift workers perception about work-to-family balance, and (3) to identify work-to-family balance practices which are promoted by tourism and hospitality organizations. We use a mixed methodology approach through a quantitative approach and a semi-structured interview for the qualitative approach. It applied a questionnaire for 100 human resources professionals from hotels in the north of Portugal and made 20 semi-structured interviews with employees, who are working in tourism and hospitality organizations. The results reveal a certain association between shift work and work-to-family balance, with different results for parents or no parents, as well as results indicate that there is a relative concern of organizations on promoting work-to-family balance practices. From the results obtained, we will contribute to the literature on shift work by showing that conciliation practices help mitigate this work-to-family conflict, especially in the tourism and hospitality sectors.