_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Report Information from ProQuest

November 13 2014 14:46
Created by My Research account: GIULIAGIU93 (Atanasiu Giulia)
_______________________________________________________________

13 November 2014

ProQuest

Table of contents
1. Flexibility and work-life conflict in times of crisis: a gender perspective....................................................... 1
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................................... 3

13 November 2014

ii

ProQuest

Document 1 of 1

Flexibility and work-life conflict in times of crisis: a gender perspective

Author: Hofcker, Dirk; Knig, Stefanie
ProQuest document link
Abstract: Purpose - This paper aims to investigate the effect of flexible working conditions on work-family
conflict in European countries. Flexible work has increasingly been used by employers to adapt to the demands
of economic competition, often at the expense of employee's demands. Yet, at the same time, flexible work can
provide a means to better combine work and family obligations. The paper seeks to explore which of these
effects dominates for different types of flexible employment, paying specific attention to gender-specific effects.
Design/methodology/approach - For the cross-national analysis of work-life-conflict, the authors employ the
latest wave of the European Social Survey (ESS) from 2010, featuring a module on "Family, work and wellbeing". Binomial logistic regression is used to identify determinants of work-life-conflict both on the micro- and
the macro-level. In addition to looking at flexible work forms as a phenomenon per se, specific attention is given
to the experience of different types of employment flexibilization throughout the financial crisis. Findings - For
both genders, irregularity and unpredictability of working hours negatively impact on work-life conflict beyond
the mere amount of working hours. Yet, higher autonomy in choosing one's work time is used very differently:
While women tend to use their control over working hours to achieve a better work-life-balance, men tend to use
these arrangements to increase their work commitment, thereby enhancing their perceived work-family conflict.
The authors argue that this gender-specific use of flexible work arrangements might still reflect the traditional
gender roles and gender-segregated labour market structures. Adding to previous literature, the authors
furthermore demonstrate that gender-specific differences are also apparent in the effects of the most recent
economic crisis. Originality/value - By examining the effects of various types of flexible employment separately
for men and women, the paper contributes to a better understanding of the gender-specific effects of flexible
work arrangements on work-family-conflict within European countries. The 5th wave of the ESS furthermore for
the first time allows an empirical investigation of the effects of the recent financial crisis on work-family conflict
from a cross-nationally comparative perspective.
Subject: Quality of life; Families & family life; Working hours; Recessions; Stress; Studies; Human resource
management;
Classification: 6500: Employee problems; 6100: Human resource planning; 9130: Experimental/theoretical
Publication title: The International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
Volume: 33
Issue: 9/10
Pages: 613-635
Publication year: 2013
Publication date: 2013
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing, Limited
Place of publication: Patrington
Country of publication: United Kingdom
Publication subject: Sociology, Social Services And Welfare

13 November 2014

Page 1 of 3

ProQuest

ISSN: 0144333X
CODEN: ISPODU
Source type: Scholarly Journals
Language of publication: English
Document type: Feature
ProQuest document ID: 1427377773
Document URL: http://search.proquest.com/docview/1427377773?accountid=15533
Copyright: Copyright Emerald Group Publishing Limited 2013
Last updated: 2013-09-16
Database: ProQuest Central

13 November 2014

Page 2 of 3

ProQuest

Bibliography
Citation style: APA 6th - American Psychological Association, 6th Edition
Dirk Hofcker, & Stefanie Knig. (2013). Flexibility and work-life conflict in times of crisis: A gender perspective.
The International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 33(9), 613-635. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1427377773?accountid=15533

_______________________________________________________________
Contact ProQuest

Copyright 2014 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. - Terms and Conditions

13 November 2014

Page 3 of 3

ProQuest