The rapid changes in the composition of families and workforce have made it more important to study the relationship between work and family. In response to these changes, many organizations especially in public sectors have implemented programs or po...
The rapid changes in the composition of families and workforce have made it more important to study the relationship between work and family. In response to these changes, many organizations especially in public sectors have implemented programs or policies to accommodate the needs. However, it is doubtful whether the numerous policy promises are fulfilled in reality. To cope with the gaps between policy and reality, we need to pay attention to informal social supports.
In this context, this study identifies the effect of informal social supports on work-family interface(work-family conflict, work-family facilitation) and job satisfaction. The three sources of informal social supports(supervisors, coworkers, organization) and gender differences are examined.
The theoretical model was tested with data from 601 employees in the local government of Korea. The data was analyzed by AMOS 7.0 and SPSS 12.0 for windows. Reliability test, factor analysis, T-test, ANOVA, and path analysis were conducted.
The results of this study are as follows:
First, there were significant gender differences in social supports, work-family interface, and job satisfaction. Overall social supports, supervisor's social supports, coworker's social supports and organizational social supports towards men were higher than women. Moreover, women reported higher level of work-family conflict. In the similar vein, women's job satisfaction was lower than men's.
Second, every social supports received from three sources was related to work-family interface and job satisfaction. In addition, work-family conflict and work-family facilitation were related to job satisfaction. Organizational social supports was positively related to work-family facilitation. Supervisor's social supports and coworker's social supports was negatively related to work-family conflict. While work-family conflict was negatively related to job satisfaction, work-family facilitation was positively related to job satisfaction.
Third, there were no gender differences in causal relationship between the variables. In other words, gender did not moderated the influence of any of the variables.
To sum up, despite that gender did not moderated the influence of any of the variables, the gender differences in social supports and work-family interface caused the gender differences in job satisfaction. Social supports towards men was higher than women. Women reported higher level of work-family conflict. And women's job satisfaction was lower than men's. Especially, in every facet, married women were under the toughest condition. Among the subpopulation groups, married women reported the lowest level of social supports from every sources and, as a result, the highest level of work-family conflict.
These results have some implications.
First, it is needed to apply different strategies for men and women to balance work and family. Women are experiencing high level of family responsibilities and low level of social supports. Men are experiencing relatively low level of family responsibilities and high level of social supports. However, men's family responsibility and need of supports are increasing. Accordingly, gender differences should be considered in policy measures.
Second, in terms of the fact that they are bearing multiple burden in the hardest condition, married women should be considered in distinctive and positive manners.
Third, work-family facilitation as well as work-family conflict should be concerned.
Fourth, organizational culture can either enhance or thwart effectiveness of work-family programs. Family supportive policy should include programs to change organizational culture.
This study is exploratory. Thus, further research is required to confirm the findings. Nevertheless, the present study enhances our knowledge of social supports, work-family interface, job satisfaction, and gender.