Work–Family Conflict Among Employees and the Self-Employed Across Europe

Abstract

This article examines the level of work–family conflict of self-employed persons, a changing but neglected group in work–life research, compared to employees in Europe. Differences between the two groups are explained by looking at job demands and resources. The inclusion of work–family state support makes it possible to examine differences between countries. Multilevel analysis has been applied to data from the European Social Survey (ESS 2010). The results show that job demands and resources operate differently for employees and the self-employed. The relationship between employment type and WFC is mediated mainly by job demands such as working hours, working at short notice, job insecurity and supervisory work. The results also reveal variation across countries that cannot be explained by state support, signalling the need for a more complete understanding of WFC from a cross-national perspective.

Cross-cultural work and family research: A review of the literature

“…The underlying rationale is that institutional benefits are designed to facilitate work and family management by allowing time out of the workforce to care for children, greater flexibility in the scheduling of work to accommodate children, or greater access and/or affordability of childcare to allow for a meaningful nonwork life. Although actually testing the role of cultural/institutional variables through imputation is relatively rare in cross-cultural WF research (11% of studies), family-related welfare is the most commonly imputed variable (Allen et al, 2014b;Annink, den Dulk, & Steijn, 2016;Notten, Grunow, & Verbakel, 2016;Ruppanner, 2013). The empirical data suggest more generous state support does indeed relate to lower WF conflict.…”

“…This can increase work demands and threaten WF balance (Aycan, 2008). Family-related welfare provided by state (8) -Level of support as provided by the government is negatively related to WF conflict because: o Such policies make work and family in less competition (Annink et al, 2016;Korabik et al, 2003;Notten et al, 2016;Ruppanner, 2013;Strandh & Nordenmark, 2006;van der Lippe et al, 2006). -Level of support as provided by the government is negatively related to work-to-family conflict because:…”

Mortality differences between self-employed and paid employees: a 5-year follow-up study of the working population in Sweden

“…The self-employed are still a neglected group in the international occupational safety and health research, and more knowledge is needed about the health effects of self-employment, 3 particularly as encouraging selfemployment seems to have become a priority in contemporary economies worldwide in order to boost growth and enhance business. 1 2 It is plausible that self-employment may increase as a consequence of changing working life and global competition, ageing populations and the need to integrate refugees and vulnerable groups into the labour market.…”

Physical and mental health problems of self‐employed small business owners in South Korea

“…There are two contradictory views on the health of self‐employed workers . Based on the Job‐Demand Control Model, a traditional framework on occupational stress produced by workplace stressor and job control, one perspective suggests that entrepreneurs experience better health than those in other types of employment .…”