Employee engagement and Emotional Exhaustion of Fly-In-Fly-Out Workers: A Diary Study

Abstract

Objective Although fly‐in‐fly‐out (FIFO) work practices are widely used, little is known about their impact on the motivation and wellbeing of FIFO workers across the course of their work cycles. Drawing from the job demands‐resources model, we aimed to test for the within‐person effects of time of work cycle, job demands, and job resources on emotional exhaustion and employee engagement at 3‐day intervals. Method A total of 52 FIFO workers filled out three or more online diary surveys after every 3 days of their on‐site work roster. The survey consisted of items drawn from previously validated scales. Bayesian hierarchical modelling of the day‐level data was conducted. Results Workers, on average, showed a decline in engagement and supervisor support, and an increase in emotional demand over the course of the work cycle. The results of the hierarchical modelling showed that day‐level autonomy predicted day‐level engagement and that day‐level workload and emotional demands predicted emotional exhaustion. Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of managing FIFO employees’ day‐to‐day experiences of job demands and job resources because of their influence on employee engagement and emotional exhaustion. To best protect FIFO worker day‐level wellbeing, employing organisations should ensure optimal levels of job autonomy, workload, and emotional demands. Practical implications, study limitations and areas for future research are outlined.

Positive Psychological Capital as a Predictor of Satisfaction With the Fly-In Fly-Out Model

“…However, the type of functions performed by FIFO flexpatriates and the constant distance from their families and friends’ raises concerns about health and safety, disturbances in social and family life, quality of work, effects on productivity performance, and job dissatisfaction. These workers have higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than the general population ( Albrecht and Anglim, 2018 ; Center for Transformative Work Design (CTWD), 2018 ). Periods of medical discharge and frequent turnover, therefore, is considered to be in the best interest of companies to develop and apply strategies to promote the well-being of these workers.…”

The monetary subjective health evaluation for commuting long distances in Chile: A latent class analysis

“…At the same time, there has also been an incipient but growing concern about the potential impacts on health and well‐being of long‐distance commuters. Some qualitative studies—carried out mainly in Australia—point out that workers travelling long distances under a FIFO/DIDO system can suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and stress symptoms (see for example Albrecht & Anglim, ; Liddell, ; McKenzie, ; Pini & Mayes, ; Rotter, Barnett, & Fawcett, ; Vojnovic & Bahn, ; Watts, ). This increased prevalence of mental health issues in FIFO/DIDO workers is mainly caused by being away from home for extended periods of time, which in turn produces a deterioration of the family relationships: limited communication with the couple, missing family events and less connection with their children (Blackman et al, ; Cassidy, ; Green, Hogarth, & Shackleton, ; Sandow, ; Stafford, ).…”