Personality and Work-Family Conflict from the Perspective of Service Industry in Malaysia

Abstract

Despite broader coverage of multidisciplinary work-family research, issues related to work and family interface are still not well understood. Consequently, the implementation of work-family policies has been ineffective in reducing conflict experienced by those who juggle multiple roles. This study was devised to analyze the level of work-family conflict among service employees in Malaysia as well as to examine the association between personality and work-family conflict. The findings indicate that the employees in service industry in Malaysia cope quite well with the pressure of managing multiple social roles. In general, extraversion and conscientiousness appear to negatively associate with work-family conflict. The strongest relationships detected were between neuroticism and both directions of work-family conflict (WFC and FWC). This study highlights the importance of tailored benefits that cater different individual needs. The limitations and suggestions for future research are also discussed.