Work-family enrichment through I-Deals : evidence from Chinese employees

摘要

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model of idiosyncratic deals (i-deals), embedded in the processes of work-family enrichment. Design/methodology/approach – Hierarchical linear regressions and indirect-effect analyses were used to analyze the data from 179 working parents surveyed in a Chinese city. Findings – Successful i-deal negotiation was contingent on both personal initiative of the employee and a positive influx of support from the family to the work domain. Additionally, the results suggested that: development i-deals enriched the intra-work role experience by customizing intrinsic work features and thus enhancing intrinsic motivation. Flexibility i-deals enriched the work-to-family boundary experience through increased instrumentality of the work role, connected to the economic basis of employment. Research limitations/implications – Providing new insights into the antecedents and consequences of i-deals, the study suggested a model through which employees can create balance and use synergies in their work-life quality. Based on single-source cross-sectional data, the results are preliminary. Practical implications – Human resource management needs to consider the family lives of employees, especially in the Chinese culture. The authors further discussed applications of and limitations to the use of i-deals. Social implications – The study provides a new approach to addressing the issue of balance between different social roles. Originality/value – The study is the first to investigate i-deals in the context of work-family enrichment, explore the role experiences of i-deal recipients, and link i-deals to distinct motivational processes.