Juggling life and work: unravelling the moderated-mediation effect of work engagement and turnover intention

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine study probes into the association between work–family balance (WFB) and workplace wellbeing (WWB), as there has been a dearth of studies in this domain. Furthermore, the study deciphers the mediation and moderation effect of work engagement (WE) and turnover intent, respectively, on this primal relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study undertakes a quantitative analysis of full-time regular employees (n = 334) in the USA, with a minimum experience of two years in current employment. The data was collected in two phases to minimize common method bias. The collected data was analysed via structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results indicate a positive association between WFB and workplace well-being. The mediation effect of WE on the primal association between WFB and workplace wellbeing is also substantiated. Though turnover intent failed to moderate this association between WFB and WWB; but mitigated the linkage between WE and workplace wellbeing.

Practical implications

The study demonstrates that the direct relationship between WFB and WWB is more pronounced than its indirect association. This insight could help organizations to design policies that include WFB; which can further accelerate WWB and work immersion attitudes amongst employees. Finally, this paper illustrates that employee attrition can be controlled by championing a climate of WE and WWB.

Originality/value

The present investigation offers an insight into the direct association between the WFB and workplace well-being of employees; and the pivotal role of WE in the whole nexus, an investigation which has been largely ignored, in the past. Furthermore, it refutes the effect of negative constructs like turnover intention, in the presence of positive associates like WE and WFB; which is an important lead for both practitioners and theorists.