Crossover specificity of team-level work-family conflict to individual-level work-family conflict

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the crossover specificity of team-level stressors to individual-level work-family conflict. Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a multilevel analyses with data from 428 employees of a Dutch municipality working in 49 teams. Findings – The results indicate the expected crossover specificity of different types of work-family conflicts. After controlling for individual-level demands there is little evidence that team-level work demands influence work-family conflict (WFC) or family-work conflict (FWC), but team-level WFC and FWC do influence individual-level WFC and FWC, respectively. Research limitations/implications – The paper distinguishes two types of WFC, but it did not distinguish between strain- and time-based conflicts. Further, it did not pay attention to individual differences (e.g., susceptibility to distress of team members), although such differences may be important moderators of the crossover process. Originality/value – This study is one of the first that empirically linked team-level stressors and WFC to individual-level WFC and that tested crossover specificity. Findings indicated the associations of team-level WFC and FWC and focal employees’ WFC and FWC respectively, thereby underscoring the importance of crossover specificity.