Effects of Work–family Interface, Flexible Employment Modes and Work–life Balance on Family Satisfaction: A Moderated Mediation Model

Living and working in a fast-pace international city, people in Hong Kong are said to experience low work-life balance and therefore low family satisfaction. In order to promote family-friendly employment policy, local academics and NGOs emphasize the importance of introducing flexible employment modes to the city; however, there is a lack of empirical study supporting this will work in Hong Kong. The present study examined the relationship between work–family interface and family satisfaction, by illustrating the mediating effect of work–family balance and the moderating effect of satisfaction with work schedule flexibility. Based on a sample of 201 full time employees in Hong Kong, we found that work–family conflict negatively affected family satisfaction, while work–family enrichment was positively related to family satisfaction via work–family balance. Our moderated path analysis pointed out that there was stronger negative relationship between work–family conflicts and work–family balance when low satisfaction with work schedule flexibility existed. The result also indicated that high satisfaction with work schedule flexibility weakened the above-mentioned negative relationship. Furthermore, this study found that the positive relationship between work–family enrichment and work–family balance could not be further empowered when high satisfaction with work schedule flexibility existed. As shown by this study, flexible employments modes improved both work-family role balance and family satisfaction. The encouragement of flexible employment modes in Hong Kong should hence be urged, while non-governmental organization and the government need to take active roles in implementing relevant policies.