Understanding the causes and consequences of work-family conflict: An exploratory study of Nigerian employees

Abstract

Purpose

An important theme for a twenty-first century employee is a desire for work and family balance which is devoid of conflict. Drawing on detailed empirical research, the purpose of this paper is to examine the multi-faceted causes and consequences of work-family conflict (WFC) in a non-Western context (Nigeria).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses qualitative data gleaned from the semi-structured interviews of 88 employees (44 university lecturers and 44 medical doctors) in cities in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

Findings

The findings showed that work pressure, heavy familial duties, poor infrastructural facilities, and a lack of suitable and practicable work-family balance policies are the main causes of WFC in Nigeria. Juvenile delinquencies, broken marriages/families, and an unhappy workforce are among the grave consequences of WFC among Nigerian employees.

Originality/value

This paper suggests that the availability of basic infrastructural facilities, more governmental support, practicable work-family policies, inter alia, will reduce the level of WFC for Nigerian employees and will also results in positive spill-over from the work domain to the family domain and vice-versa.

Citation

Adisa, T.A., Osabutey, E.L.C. and Gbadamosi, G. (2016), "Understanding the causes and consequences of work-family conflict: An exploratory study of Nigerian employees", Employee Relations, Vol. 38 No. 5, pp. 770-788. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-11-2015-0211