Managing boundaries between work and non‐work domains: Personality and job characteristics and adopted style

Abstract

With an increasing overlap between the work and non‐work domain, more research is needed to understand the factors that relate to how individuals manage their boundaries across multiple roles (i.e., work roles, family roles). Using a sample of 498 individuals, we explored the relationships between personality, O*NET job characteristic variables, and boundary management styles. Results revealed that job responsibility and work structure related to cross‐role interruptions and work identity centrality. Further, conscientiousness was related to greater perceptions of boundary control, family identity centrality, and fewer interruptions of work, while neuroticism was related to fewer interruptions of non‐work. Finally, the present findings replicated four of six defined boundary management styles put forth in prior research. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Practitioner points Individuals may differ in how they enact boundaries between work and non‐work as related to their individual personality. The job in which one works may relate to the manner in which boundaries between work and non‐work are managed. Organizational efforts to help employees with boundary management may be improved if job context and employee individual differences are noted and accommodated.

The Spillover Effect of Life Satisfaction on Customer Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Service-Oriented Organizational Citizenship and the Moderating Role of Competition Climate

“…For example, a higher level of neuroticism was associated with negative spillover between family and work, while a higher level of extraversion was associated with a positive spillover effect [ 37 ]. Several studies also support the idea that individuals high in conscientiousness tend to control life–work cross-boundary interruptions in a way that aligns with their needs and identities [ 90 , 91 ]. Similarly, for those service employees high in conscientiousness, even if they are not happy in life, it is less likely that they will exhibit negative emotions in a service job, and thus the effect between life satisfaction and customer satisfaction is not directly significant.…”

Everyday life as an evolving context of information behaviour

“…Further support for the above assumptions can be obtained from work life studies (Broadbent, 2016; Gardner et al. , 2021; Wajcman et al.…”

“…For example, remote workers whose sole professional office is located in their homes actively made decisions about the permeability of their information boundaries through creating and maintaining physical, temporal and psychological boundaries (Thomson, 2013). Recently, with the COVID-19 pandemic, an even greater focus has emerged on these topics as many individuals are forced to work from home (Gardner et al, 2021). There is an increasing overlap between work and non-work domains, given the flexible work arrangements enabled by the use of new information and communication technologies.…”

“…Further support for the above assumptions can be obtained from work life studies (Broadbent, 2016;Gardner et al, 2021;Wajcman et al, 2010). With the growing use of the networked and mobile technologies, the picture of everyday life as a context of human activities has changed particularly regarding the relationships between work and leisure.…”

Re‐drawing the line: Work‐home boundary management profiles and their dynamics during the pandemic

“…Given the multidimensional nature of boundary management, we argue that a dynamic person‐centred perspective is needed to better understand how people regulate boundary strength, especially in the context of external pressures (such as the unexpected transfer to telework). While person‐centred analyses, directed towards identifying distinct boundary management profiles, have received considerable attention in the literature (Bulger et al, 2007; Gardner et al, 2021; Kossek et al, 2012), empirical evidence about their dynamic side remains scarce. Except prior (variable‐centred) research on the longitudinal stability of boundary strength (e.g.…”