Role conflict and work-life-family (WLF) demands: a perspective of Malaysian family business
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-09-2018-0264 |
| Published date | 19 December 2019 |
| Date | 19 December 2019 |
| Pages | 589-599 |
| Subject Matter | Strategy,International business |
| Author | Hamrila Abd Latip,M. Monzer Rahaman,Kartinah Ayupp,Evan Lau |
Role conflict and work-life-family (WLF)
demands: a perspective of Malaysian
family business
Hamrila Abd Latip, M. Monzer Rahaman, Kartinah Ayupp and Evan Lau
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between work-life-family (WLF)
demandsand job satisfaction in family businesses.
Design/methodology/approach –Data were collected from 220, who involve in the family business
sector in Malaysia. In this study,the major demands in individuals are classified into three categoriesof
WLF. The work component was measured in terms of standard working hours, work pressure and
conditions, co-workerrelationships and promotional opportunities.The life component was represented
by living standards,level of self-motivation fulfillment,achievement of individual targets, self-compassion,
self-care and health and community development. The family component represented another
segmentation of responsibility and demands for specific role, which relates to family tasks, collective/
familinesstargets, family involvement and mutual understanding.
Findings –The empirical results indicated that work-related demands determine entrepreneurs’ job
satisfaction, then followed by family-related and life-related (personal) demands. As this study was
confined to the micro businesses under the family business sector, this provides valuable findings by
uncovering the differences among the antecedents because of the reasoning of work culture and
business management practices. It is argued that the role conflicts are related to job satisfaction,
individualhappiness and family contentment.
Originality/value –It expands the typology and fostering sustainable entrepreneurial development.
Insights gained could facilitate business strategies and effective human resource policies particularly
among the familybusinesses in Malaysia.
Keywords Entrepreneurs, Family business, Work-life balance, Job satisfaction, Family demands
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Work-life (WL) balance is an issue of strategic importance to organizations and having
significance to employees, especially for family businesses, where employer and employee
share and maintain manifold roles in personal,business and family relations. The interaction
between household and enterprise was affected by the characteristics of the overlap
between family and the firm, by the life cycle of the family and the firm, by the size of the
family and the firm, and by the division of labor and gender roles within the family
(Paakkanen, 2002). The complex operates on the basis of its values, sets of goals and
available resources. Thus,organizational awareness and management support with respect
to implementing WL balance strategies hinges on an organization’s need to enhance work
performance that leads to the sustainability of the family business.
The view that WL balance is drawn from an individual’s multiple life roles derives from the
early recognition that non-work (family or personal) demands may carry over into the
working day and adversely influence individual health and performance at work. Particularly
Hamrila Abd Latip,
M. Monzer Rahaman,
Kartinah Ayupp and
Evan Lau are all based at
the Faculty of Economics
and Business, Universiti
Malaysia Sarawak, Kota
Samarahan, Malaysia.
Received 27 September 2018
Revised 9 January 2019
28 February 2019
Accepted 4 March 2019
This study was supported by the
Ministry of Higher Education,
Malaysia under the grant:
F01/SpGS/1560/2017. The
authors also acknowledged
the comments made by the
anonymous reviewers and
also the editor for further
improvement of the paper.
DOI 10.1108/JABS-09-2018-0264 VOL. 16 NO. 4 2022, pp. 589-599, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1558-7894 jJOURNAL OF ASIA BUSINESS STUDIES jPAGE 589
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