Spillover-Crossover Effects of Work-Life Conflict Among Married Academicians in Private University

Abstract

Work and personal life are usually perceived as mutually incompatible domains, needing to be maintained in clear segregation for the experience of stress-free living. However, with evolving occupational demands, advancements in communication technology, and the threat of career obsolescence, dictating the norms of organisational cultures, the boundary separating the work domain from the home domain is nowadays indistinct. Thus, this study has been conducted using the qualitative phenomenological study to explore the influence of organisational culture on the work-life balance of academics. Thus, five married full-time academicians at Kuala Lumpur, employed for a minimum of one academic semester, were involved in a semi-structured interview. The present study found that work demands would usually lead to reduced involvement with the family. Academicians would mostly compensate by negotiating with their family members for quality time in the future. Mostly, the experience of work-life conflict would occur in the direction of work to family, rather than the other way around. Thus, academicians also revealed occasionally externalising their stress toward family members as a result of work-related emotions impinging on their emotional state at home. The findings of this study highlight the importance of implementing work-life balance strategies and fostering an organisational culture focused on the satisfaction of employees rather than strictly organisational objectives.