Postive Effects of Work on Family Life: A Case for Self-Managed Work Teams

Abstract

Self-managed work teams (SMWTs) redesign the workplace primarily to improve quality, productivity, and timeliness. A side effect of this redesign is that it involves skills, such as conflict resolution and listening, that can potentially spill over into employees' family life. Survey data from 114 employees from a technical division of AT&T located in the south-central United States were used to examine the association between SMWT work characteristics and employees' perceptions of positive spillover into family life. The data indicated that employees who perceived their jobs to he characterized by making good use of their ski/Is and having high autonomy, skill variety, communication, and cooperation were likely to perceive positive effects of work on family life. Theoretically, this provides support for the “spillover” conceptual framework. In practical terms, it suggests that the SMWT management strategy can be expected to have continuing positive influences on the family institution to the extent that it continues to be adopted by organizations.

• family
• self-managed teams
• work
• work spillover

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leslie Stanley-Stevens

Leslie Stanley-Stevens is an assistant professor in the department of social work, sociology, and criminal justice at Tarleton State University. She earned a doctorate at the University of North Texas. Stan ley-Stevens may be contacted at Torleton State University, Department of Social Work, Sociology, and Criminal Justice, Box T-0665 Tarleton Station, Stephenville, TX 76402; 617-968-9024, Fax [phone], E-mail [email protected].

Dale E. Yeatts

Dale E. Yeatts is an assistant professor in the department of sociology and social work at the University of North Texas. He earned a doctorate at the University of Virginia. Yeatts may be contacted at the University of North Texas, Department of Sociology and Social Work, P.O. Box 13675, Denton, TX 76203; 817-565-2283, E-mail [email protected].

Rudy Ray Seward

Rudy Roy Seward is a professor in the department of sociology and social work at the University of North Texas. Seward may be contacted at the University of North Texas, Department of Sociology and Social Work, P.O. Box 13675, Denton, TX 76203; 817-565-2296; E-mail [email protected].