Work-family enrichment in the Australian construction industry: Implications for job design

A survey of waged and salaried, project-based construction workers was conducted. The survey measured work-family enrichment, a type of positive interaction between work and family life. A six-item work-family enrichment scale confirmed the bi-directional nature of work-family enrichment. Job-related correlates of work-to-family enrichment were identified. Flexibility, perceptions of control, time adequacy and supervisor support were all positively correlated with work-to-family enrichment. Regression analyses were performed to examine the extent to which the relationship between these job-related resources and work-to-family enrichment were mediated by perceptions of work schedule fit. Work schedule fit fully mediated the relationship between flexibility and control and work-to-family enrichment. The relationship between supervisor support and time adequacy were only partially mediated by work schedule fit, though a significant mediation effect was still observed. The research suggests that jobs may be designed to facilitate work-family enrichment in the construction industry, in particular through the provision of supervisor support, flexibility, time adequacy and control.