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The rhythms of project life: a longitudinal analysis of work hours and work-life experiences in construction

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  • Helen Clare Lingard
  • Valerie Francis
  • Michelle Turner

Abstract

A diary data collection method was used to collect data from project-based construction workers in a large civil engineering construction project in Melbourne, Australia. Data capturing the number of hours worked, satisfaction with work-life balance and capacity to complete required tasks at work and at home were collected for 21 consecutive weeks. A strong correlation was found between hours worked each week and participants' work-life experiences. Data were subjected to time series modelling procedures and weekly work hours were found to significantly predict participants' capacity to complete tasks at work and at home, but not their satisfaction with work-life balance. The impact of work leading up to a major project milestone was found to increase the predictive capacity of the time series models, indicating that project events have a significant impact upon the work-life experiences of project-based workers. The period of intense work prior to the milestone (the opening of a new ramp on to an operating freeway) contributed significantly to an immediate reduction in capacity to complete tasks at home. Further time series modelling revealed that recovery opportunities associated with workers taking a short, temporary break from work can also contribute to improved work-life balance. It is proposed that construction organizations use the naturally fluctuating workloads implicit in project work to 'build' recovery opportunities into project schedules.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Clare Lingard & Valerie Francis & Michelle Turner, 2010. "The rhythms of project life: a longitudinal analysis of work hours and work-life experiences in construction," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(10), pages 1085-1098.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:28:y:2010:i:10:p:1085-1098
    DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2010.480977
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Helen Lingard & Valerie Francis, 2004. "The work-life experiences of office and site-based employees in the Australian construction industry," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(9), pages 991-1002.
    2. Monica Lindgren & Johann Packendorff, 2006. "What's New in New Forms of Organizing? On the Construction of Gender in Project‐Based Work," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 841-866, June.
    3. Alain Asquin & Gilles Garel & Thierry Picq, 2010. "When project-based management causes distress at work," Post-Print hal-02312557, HAL.
    4. Helen Lingard & Valerie Francis, 2005. "Does work-family conflict mediate the relationship between job schedule demands and burnout in male construction professionals and managers?," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7), pages 733-745.
    5. Brigid van Wanrooy & Shaun Wilson, 2006. "Convincing the toilers?," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 20(2), pages 349-368, June.
    6. Alain Asquin & Gilles Garel & Thierry Picq, 2010. "When project-based management causes distress at work," Post-Print halshs-00688860, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Moore & Martin Loosemore, 2014. "Burnout of undergraduate construction management students in Australia," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(11), pages 1066-1077, November.
    2. Albert P. C. Chan & Yang Yang & Tracy N. Y. Choi & Janet Mayowa Nwaogu, 2022. "Characteristics and Causes of Construction Accidents in a Large-Scale Development Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Guangdong Wu & Yue Wu & Hongyang Li & Chenglong Dan, 2018. "Job Burnout, Work-Family Conflict and Project Performance for Construction Professionals: The Moderating Role of Organizational Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Guangdong Wu & Kaifeng Duan & Jian Zuo & Jianlin Yang & Shiping Wen, 2016. "System Dynamics Model and Simulation of Employee Work-Family Conflict in the Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Jiming Cao & Cong Liu & Yubin Zhou & Kaifeng Duan, 2020. "Work-to-Family Conflict, Job Burnout, and Project Success among Construction Professionals: The Moderating Role of Affective Commitment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-22, April.

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