The role of after-hours, work-related contact in work-to-family conflict and sleep problems experienced by construction professionals

Advances in communication technology have resulted in boundaries between work and family becoming increasingly blurred, resulting in increased after-hours work contact. Little is known about the relationship between work contact and the work-to-family conflict and sleep problems experienced by construction professionals. Using a survey of 630 architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and project and construction managers, a conceptual model of work-to-family conflict and sleep problems was proposed and tested using SEM. Demographic characteristics, work experience, job autonomy and control, job pressures, and work contact were hypothesized to explain work-to-family conflict and sleep problems. A tested model was found to be an excellent fit to the data. The results indicate that 1) gender, employment status, work experience, and job pressure are determinants of levels of work contact; 2) work-to-family conflict is predicted by job autonomy and control, job pressure, and work contact, and 3) sleep problems are determined by job pressure, work contact, and work-to-family conflict. Firms and construction professionals need to improved boundary control to limit excessive work contact and/or mitigate its effects on work pressure and work-to family conflict. Intervention strategies by firms should address work contact and employers need to monitor job pressure, and promote job autonomy and control.