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Conflict between Work and Life: The Case of Contract Workers in the German IT and Media Sectors

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  • Sayah, Shiva
  • Suess, Stefan

Abstract

Many studies examine issues of work-life conflict of employees. However, in research on work-life conflict little attention has been given to contract workers to date. This is rather surprising as there are indications that the specific working conditions of contract workers can have consequences for their work-life conflict. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to reduce the existing research gap by presenting a study which analyzes the antecedents of the work-life conflict of contract workers in the IT and media sectors. Results show that the work-life conflict of contract workers is significantly influenced by working hours and income. Furthermore, the number of younger children has a significant impact on their work-life conflict when regarded in interaction with gender. All in all, this study contributes to a differentiated understanding of work-life conflict in the specific case of contract workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sayah, Shiva & Suess, Stefan, 2013. "Conflict between Work and Life: The Case of Contract Workers in the German IT and Media Sectors," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 24(3), pages 222-244.
    • Handle: RePEc:nms:mamere:1861-9908_mrev_2013_3_sayah
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    File URL: https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/0935-9915-2013-3-222
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Süß, Stefan & Kleiner, Markus, 2010. "Commitment and work-related expectations in flexible employment forms: An empirical study of German IT freelancers," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 40-54, February.
    2. Gideon Kunda & Stephen R. Barley & James Evans, 2002. "Why Do Contractors Contract? The Experience of Highly Skilled Technical Professionals in a Contingent Labor Market," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 55(2), pages 234-261, January.
    3. Stefan Suess & Markus Kleiner, 2007. "The Psychological Relationship between Companies and Freelancers: An Empirical Study of the Commitment and the Work-related Expectations of Freelancers," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 18(3), pages 251-270.
    4. Stefan Suess & Markus Kleiner, 2007. "The Psychological Relationship between Companies and Freelancers: An Empirical Study of the Commitment and the Work-related Expectations of Freelancers," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 18(3), pages 251-270.
    5. Joris Van Ruysseveldt & Karin Proost & Peter Verboon, 2011. "The Role of Work-home Interference and Workplace Learning in the Energy-depletion Process," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 22(2), pages 151-168.
    6. Anja Feierabend & Philippe Mahler & Bruno Staffelbach, 2011. "Are there Spillover Effects of a Family Supportive Work Environment on Employees without Childcare Responsibilities?," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 22(2), pages 188-209.
    7. Joris Van Ruysseveldt & Karin Proost & Peter Verboon, 2011. "The Role of Work-home Interference and Workplace Learning in the Energy-depletion Process," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 22(2), pages 151-168.
    8. Anja Feierabend & Philippe Mahler & Bruno Staffelbach, 2011. "Are there Spillover Effects of a Family Supportive Work Environment on Employees without Childcare Responsibilities?," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 22(2), pages 188-209.
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    1. Ruhle, Sascha & Süß, Stefan, 2019. "Editorial: Workplace Flexibility," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 30(1), pages 1-4.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    contract worker; quantitative study; work-life balance; work-life conflict;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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