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The complexity of resources related to work-life balance and well-being – a survey among municipality employees in Sweden

Törnquist Agosti, Madelaine LU ; Bringsén, Åsa LU and Andersson, Ingemar LU (2017) In International Journal of Human Resource Management 28(16). p.2351-2374
Abstract

Increasing sickness absence rates among care and service employees in Sweden motivate health-promoting activities. It is crucial to employers and key stakeholders, like HRM departments, to have knowledge of resources related to employees' work life balance (WLB) to increase well-being at work. The aim of the study was to explore resources associated with WLB, with focus on work and private lives among care and service employees. A questionnaire survey to a total population of two municipality departments (n = 631, response rate 76%) was conducted. A linear regression model showed five significant main resources related to WLB: a positive life situation, recovery, a positive time experience at work, a positive time experience in private... (More)

Increasing sickness absence rates among care and service employees in Sweden motivate health-promoting activities. It is crucial to employers and key stakeholders, like HRM departments, to have knowledge of resources related to employees' work life balance (WLB) to increase well-being at work. The aim of the study was to explore resources associated with WLB, with focus on work and private lives among care and service employees. A questionnaire survey to a total population of two municipality departments (n = 631, response rate 76%) was conducted. A linear regression model showed five significant main resources related to WLB: a positive life situation, recovery, a positive time experience at work, a positive time experience in private life and well-being. Logistics regression models further exploring the main resources showed essential sub-resources such as health-promoting leadership, supportive home environment and reflection on everyday life. This two-step analysis with a salutogenic perspective points out a holistic and complex picture of possibilities to promote employees’ WLB and well-being. These findings can be used as a supportive framework for HR departments in charge of competence development for managers. Moreover, the results are important in both policy-making and as a foundation for workplace health promotion (WHP) interventions.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
management, municipality employees, policy-making, Salutogenesis, work-life balance, workplace health promotion
in
International Journal of Human Resource Management
volume
28
issue
16
pages
2351 - 2374
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85021098940
  • wos:000406630100006
ISSN
0958-5192
DOI
10.1080/09585192.2017.1340323
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
02dedc0e-c775-4c6d-b1bb-74c87bd18465
date added to LUP
2017-07-11 14:14:47
date last changed
2024-02-29 17:55:40
@article{02dedc0e-c775-4c6d-b1bb-74c87bd18465,
  abstract     = {{<p>Increasing sickness absence rates among care and service employees in Sweden motivate health-promoting activities. It is crucial to employers and key stakeholders, like HRM departments, to have knowledge of resources related to employees' work life balance (WLB) to increase well-being at work. The aim of the study was to explore resources associated with WLB, with focus on work and private lives among care and service employees. A questionnaire survey to a total population of two municipality departments (n = 631, response rate 76%) was conducted. A linear regression model showed five significant main resources related to WLB: a positive life situation, recovery, a positive time experience at work, a positive time experience in private life and well-being. Logistics regression models further exploring the main resources showed essential sub-resources such as health-promoting leadership, supportive home environment and reflection on everyday life. This two-step analysis with a salutogenic perspective points out a holistic and complex picture of possibilities to promote employees’ WLB and well-being. These findings can be used as a supportive framework for HR departments in charge of competence development for managers. Moreover, the results are important in both policy-making and as a foundation for workplace health promotion (WHP) interventions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Törnquist Agosti, Madelaine and Bringsén, Åsa and Andersson, Ingemar}},
  issn         = {{0958-5192}},
  keywords     = {{management; municipality employees; policy-making; Salutogenesis; work-life balance; workplace health promotion}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{16}},
  pages        = {{2351--2374}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Human Resource Management}},
  title        = {{The complexity of resources related to work-life balance and well-being – a survey among municipality employees in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2017.1340323}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09585192.2017.1340323}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}