The impact of individual and organizational characteristics on work‐family conflict and career outcomes

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the dynamics of individual and organizational characteristics in work‐family conflict (WFC) and career outcomes. It aims to consider the role of self‐esteem, career management and multiple life role commitment, and, as individual characteristics, on WFC and career outcomes; it also seeks to consider the role of career encouragement and organizational culture, as organizational characteristics, on WFC and career outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe research was carried out in a sample of 399 females at different levels of management in Greek organizations. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings show that both individual and organizational characteristics are significant in determining WFC and career outcomes. No relationship is found between WFC and career outcomes. Overall, the results support the depletion theory.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of this study are: the complexity of the model, the use of cross‐sectional data in causal modeling that makes it difficult to disentangle the directions of paths, and the use of only self‐report survey data. Research in progress addresses these issues by incorporating qualitative data collected from a sub‐sample of managers.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights the outcomes of the choices women make in the work and non‐work domains in order to balance the demands of each.Originality/valueThe paper highlights that WFC is considered both as an outcome and as a mediator in the relationship between individual and organizational characteristics and career outcomes.