Job Satisfaction Spillover
Introduction
While searching for employment, most individuals often examine the extent of job satisfaction they would derive from the different available alternatives. There are numerous factors or elements affecting job satisfaction including the salary scale, working environment, terms of employment (either temporary or permanent) and opportunities for career growth and/or development among other perspectives. This fact notwithstanding, it is extremely important to highlight the fact that the different elements of job satisfaction have brought about a spillover effect not only upon family but also other aspects of life.
This paper shall comprehensively evaluate job satisfaction spillover while also highlighting the manner in which such phenomenon becomes manifested. Additionally, the paper shall also document the specific beneficial and undesirable implications of job satisfaction spillover. The survey conducted by Ilies et al (2009) shall form an excellent platform from which the issue of job satisfaction spillover in the modern world will be analyzed.
Job Satisfaction Spillover
In very basic terms, job satisfaction spillover refers to a situation whereby the attributes related to the work environment are carried over to family life and family-life attributes are carried over to the work environment. (Ilies, 2009) As briefly outlined in the introductory section, there are numerous factors that influence and/or contribute towards job satisfaction. Conventionally, job satisfaction was associated with aspects such as high salary scales and favorable retirement benefits; however, job satisfaction in the modern world is associated with numerous factors.
For instance, most individuals would rather take a less paying job in order to have more time to spend with their families. These kinds of trends have facilitated for high levels of job satisfaction spillover whereby a counter-balance exists between family and work life. (Lockwood, 2007)
From a different perspective, it is also extremely essential to highlight the fact that the quality of family life substantially influences job satisfaction; excellent quality of family life brings about a substantial increase in the level of job satisfaction. On the other hand, a decrease in the quality of family life significantly compromises the level and/or extent of job satisfaction. Similarly, the spillover effect is manifested by the fact that a decline in the quality of job satisfaction negatively influences the quality of life among individuals. When an employee derives a lot of stress from the workplace, it trickles down to family life in that he or she cannot offer the expected level of devotion to the family. It is quite challenging to expect that an individual will enjoy family life when things are going wrong at the workplace. (Esen, 2007)
On the contrary, the quality of family life is tremendously enhanced when an individual’s job satisfaction is high. Consequently, these perspectives clearly indicate that employers should seriously consider the various attributes of family life in order to yield maximum output from employees. Job satisfaction cannot be achieved within any given organization without the formulation of a comprehensive analysis of the different aspects of the spillover effect. (Werner, 2011)
Manifestation Of Job Satisfaction Spillover
Job satisfaction spillover can be manifested in numerous ways; as mentioned above, this happens when work-related attributes are carried over to the family and family-life attributes are carried over to the workplace. Employees’ output at the workplace stands out as one of the most notable ways in which job satisfaction spillover is manifested. The level of an individual’s output at the workplace is significantly compromised if the quality of family life is low. (Jones, 2006)
This is brought about by the fact that the individual spends a lot of time thinking about the family-related issues and/or predicaments. On the other hand, in an instance where the individual’s quality of family life is good, his or her output at the workplace is enhanced. These perspectives also apply in terms of work spillover to family life. Apart from employees’ output, job satisfaction spillover is also manifested by the nature interpersonal relationships at both the workplace and family. (Esen, 2007)
Family-related pressures spillover to the work-life in that the affected individuals relate poorly with colleagues at work. Similarly, the job satisfaction spillover is manifested when work-related pressures compromise the quality of interpersonal relationships of affected individuals at the family level. For instance, an individual might quarrel with the spouse over minor issues as a result of work-related stress. All these perspectives clearly indicate the various ways in which job satisfaction spillover is manifested. (Lockwood, 2007)
Implications Of Job Satisfaction Spillover
Having critically examined the various important perspectives with regard to job satisfaction spillover, it is extremely essential to analyze the specific implications it brings about.
Positive Impacts of Job Satisfaction Spillover
Job satisfaction spillover is associated with several major advantages; firstly, the performance of employees at the workplace is tremendously enhanced if the quality of family life is high. In line with this perspective, the quality of family-life is strongly enhanced when an individual derives an excellent level of job satisfaction at work. In this kind of scenario or situation, the overall quality of life of an individual is significantly enhanced. (Ilies, 2009)
Additionally, job satisfaction spillover is highly beneficial in that individuals can formulate solutions for family-related problems based on their experiences at work. This is also the case when individuals formulate effective problem solving mechanisms for work-related challenges based on their experiences at the family level; an excellent example is whereby individuals use dialogue to solve conflicts either at work or in family life. (Werner, 2011)
Negative Impacts of Job Satisfaction Spillover
Even though job satisfaction spillover is closely associated with numerous beneficial implications, it is vital to highlight the other side of the ‘coin’ in terms of disadvantages. One of the most notable negative implications of job satisfaction spillover is that it can strongly undermine an individual’s quality of life. This occurs when an individual experiences either work-related or family-related problems. For instance, when an employee is divorced by the spouse, job satisfaction spillover results into severe deterioration of concentration or output at work. On the other hand, an individual might be so focused about work that he/she compromises the quality of family life. Consequently, it is critically essential to maintain good balance between work and family in order to avert the negative effects of job satisfaction spillover. (Lockwood, 2007)
Analysis Of Results Presented By Ilies Et Al (2009)
The results presented by Ilies et al (2009) in figures 1 and 2 provide a graphical representation of the different implications and/or effects of job satisfaction spillover. In figure (1), the authors have presented two scenarios pitting the impact of low job satisfaction and high job satisfaction. (Ilies, 2009)
In the first instance, low job satisfaction is associated with a lower degree of quality of family life; in the second instance, high job satisfaction brings about a greater degree of quality of life at the family level. The second figure (figure 2), presents the authors’ findings with regard to the impact of work-family integration on job satisfaction. Low levels of work-family integration are associated with low job satisfaction while excellent levels of work-family integration are associated with high job satisfaction. The authors justified the hypothesis that higher positive affect at home is brought about by high daily job satisfaction.
Upon the completion of the study, the authors made several main conclusions; firstly, they concluded that job satisfaction is directly related to the quality of family life. In line with this assertion, the authors highlighted the fact that low job satisfaction strongly compromises the quality of family life. (Ilies, 2009)The second major conclusion asserted that the spillover process is strongly influenced by work-family integration; the higher the integration, the greater the degree of spillover. Finally, the authors were assertive that mood does not play a major role in job satisfaction spillover. This is due to the fact that mood attributes are quite temporary and are therefore subject to high levels of variation. (Ilies, 2009)
Conclusion/Lessons Learnt
Based on the conclusions made by the authors of the analyzed publication, there are several important lessons; firstly, job satisfaction can easily compromise or enhance the quality of life among individuals. Secondly, achieving a higher level of integration between work and family life serves an excellent platform of maximizing the various beneficial implications of job satisfaction spillover. Additionally, mood is characterized by a greater degree of variation and as such, does not strongly influence job satisfaction spillover.
References
Esen, E. (2007). Job satisfaction, Society for Human Resource Management
Ilies, R., & Wagner, D. T. (2009). “The spillover of daily job satisfaction,” Academy of Management Journal, 52, 87–102.
Jones, F. & Vestman, M. (2006). Work-life balance: A psychological perspective,Psychology Press
Lockwood, N. R. (2007). Work/life balance: Challenges and solutions, Society for Human Resource Management
Werner, J. M. & DeSimone, R. L. (2011). Human resource development, OH:South-Western
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