Work hour congruence: the effect on job satisfaction and absenteeism

Abstract

This study examines the effect of work hour congruence on employee job satisfaction and absenteeism using a large, longitudinal sample from the Canadian Workplace and Employee Survey (WES). An employee is said to have work hour congruence when they actually work the number of hours that they desire. Results indicate a difference between employees who desire more hours and those who desire fewer hours: employee desire for and receipt of more hours was related to positive changes in job satisfaction, while employee desire for and receipt of fewer hours was related to reduced absenteeism. In addition, the results suggest that employees respond to employers who at least try to meet their needs, those who desired more hours and received some, but not all of these additional hours showed a positive increase in job satisfaction. This study contributes to the literature by using of a precise measure of work hour preference and change, differentiating employees who desire fewer hours from those who desire more and examining both full and partial work hour congruence.

Keywords::

• absenteeism
• fewer hours
• job satisfaction
• more hours
• work hour congruence

View correction statement:

Erratum

Notes

^1. Statistics Canada. Table 282-0002 – Labour force survey estimates (LFS), by sex and detailed age group, annual (persons unless otherwise noted), CANSIM (database).

^2. Statistics Canada. Table 282-0028 – Labour force survey estimates (LFS), by total and average usual and actual hours worked, main or all jobs, type of work, sex and age group, annual (hours), CANSIM (database).

Additional information

Funding

Byron Lee would like to thank the National Natural Science Foundation in China (Project no. 71202147) for financial assistance.