Work plays a major role in our lives, not only because it occupies a significant portion of our time but also because it can influence moods and behavior beyond the workplace. For some, work frustrations spill over into home life, while for others, the joy they experience at work enhances their time with loved ones. In this context, the study (Ilies et al., 2024) examines how offering help or encountering interpersonal conflict at work can affect family life, either positively or negatively. It highlights how positive spillover from work can strengthen family bonds, while conflict may have harmful effects. It also explores how spouses’ reactions to shared work experiences shape these outcomes.
SPILLOVER EFFECTS
The researchers conducted a study on work-family dynamics, recruiting 113 couples from a university in China. Over the course of ten working days, the researchers collected data through online surveys, with employees completing surveys in the afternoon and evening, and spouses completing surveys in the evening as well.
The findings revealed that helping others at work had a positive impact on both the employees and their spouses, leading to stronger relationships and greater happiness at home. Conversely, work-related conflict harmed employee well-being and strained relationships. However, when spouses provided support, the negative effects were lessened. Interestingly, conflicts at work did not seem to directly impact the spouse’s overall happiness, likely because individuals tend to emphasize positive experiences when evaluating their lie satisfaction.
IMPLICATIONS FOR ORGANIZATIONS
This study emphasizes how work experiences – either positive or negative – can spill over into family life, affecting well-being and relationships. To enhance employee well-being and reduce stress at home, the authors suggest that organizations do the following:
- Encourage prosocial behavior by rewarding helpful actions and fostering strong employee-leader and peer relationships. This can promote positive spillover from work to home.
- Offer conflict management and mindfulness training to equip employees with strategies to handle work conflicts more effectively. This may reduce the likelihood that stress will carry over into family life.
- Recognize that spousal reactions to work-related stress can mitigate the negative effects of work-family spillover and ultimately strengthen family relationships.
Ilies, R., Yao, J., Pluut, H., Liang, A. X., & Weng, Q. (Derek). (2024). Blurred lines: The spillover and crossover effects of interpersonal experiences at work on family behaviors and well-being. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 154, 104043.
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