Torn ties and waning morale: Unravelling the link between family incivility, employee engagement and perceived supervisor support

Abstract

The present study extends family stress to the work domain and explains how family stressors impact job outcomes. The investigation examines the relationship between family incivility (FI), employee engagement (EE), and perceived supervisor support (PSS) in the context of government school teachers in the Indian subcontinent. The examination uses a time-lag method, collecting data in two phases. The first phase collected demographic and independent variable data, while the second phase collected moderator and dependent variable data after a three-week gap. The data analysis revealed that FI harms EE, supporting previous research on the detrimental effects of incivility on job outcomes. Additionally, the study found that PSS plays a moderating role in reducing the negative effect of FI on EE. The findings of this study have important implications for managing work-family conflict and promoting work-life balance. Organizations should prioritize creating a supportive work environment that addresses family-related stressors and provides resources for employees to manage FI effectively. Supervisors play a critical role in supporting employees facing FI, and training programs on emotion management and human psychology can enhance their supportive skills. While this study is limited to the Indian subcontinent, it has implications across sectors for effectively managing family-related stress. The study contributes to the literature on FI, EE, and PSS, expanding our understanding of the impact of incivility in the home domain on job outcomes. Future research can explore additional variables, such as peer incivility and co-worker support, to better understand the relationships between these constructs.