The role of religion in work-life interface

Abstract

Although religion is central to the lives of many people, little attempt has been made to understand its role within work–life conflict, work–life facilitation and more broadly, work–life balance. This study advances current knowledge by examining the role of religion within these concepts, and exploring its moderator influence. This is achieved through investigating the experiences of Australian Muslim men and the religion of Islam, which encourages multiple roles for its followers and involves well-defined physical acts of worship. To test various hypotheses, data were collected in the form of survey questionnaires, either face-to-face or online, from 301 Australian Muslim men. The findings support the proposition that religiosity can be beneficial for work–life balance, rather than competing with work and other non-work roles for time and energy. Furthermore, religiosity can moderate the relationships between job demands and work-to-life conflict, and work hours and work-to-life conflict, but not between work flexibility and work/life facilitation, and family demands and life-to-work conflict. The findings suggest that religiosity can be important for work–life balance and stress the need for a change in research direction in this area, one that is broadened to include other roles besides work and family, including religion.

Keywords:

• Work–life interface
• religion
• work–life conflict
• work–life facilitation
• work–life interface
• Muslim

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the participants who participated in this study and the organizations that assisted with recruitment. I would also like to thank Neil Harris and Bernadette Sebar for their feedback.

Notes

1. Elements of the approach taken in this research have also been articulated in Brough, Kalliath, O’Driscoll, Maxwell and Siu’s (2007–2010) research into work–family balance and operationalized in their project instrument. Work-Life Balance: Making work-life work. Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP0770109, 2007).