Cross-Cultural Work-Family Interfaces:

Work-Family Conflict -- China and Mexico

Sophorn CheamDebbie LeungHuiYi Hung

Lillian RamosCatherine Xu

Presented by :

Cross-Cultural Work-Family Interfaces: - Work-Family Conflict

Outline:

• Definition of Work-Family Conflict

• Causes of Work Family Conflict

• Work-Family Policies

• Approaching Differences

• Concerns Rise from Differences

Work-Family Conflict Defined

Work and family demands become imbalanced

Differences & conflict of dual breadwinners & traditional family roles

Identity Theory -- Burke, 1996; Thoits, 1991

• Women: professional life vs. traditional role

Job stressors, job involvement leads to job distress and depression

Countries Comparison

Countriesper capita

GNP

Pop. Growth

Rate

Type of Economy

Family Culture

Mexico 5,070 1.2-1.4% ServicePatriarchal

authoritarian

China 840 0.7% ManufacturingUtiliarianistic

familism

Source: The Macro-environment and Work-Family Conflict: Development of a Cross Culture Comparative Framework

Mexico

Traditional family- “patriarchal-authoritarian,” – meaning that family is important & father has domination

over entire family.

Females role is at home. • When the requirement to have the woman become a mother

and employee increases the stress because it’s not a cultural norm to have women work.

Low per capita GNP, depends on a service related economy, relatively high population growth rate creates largest amount of strain on families.

China

Chinese tradition is “utilitarianistic familism,” • which is a tendency to place family interests above

those of the individual.

Work role is a means to an end, the end is the family’s financial security

Low per capita GNP, country depends on manufacturing related economy, largest population can be an indication of economic strain on families.

Causes of Work-Family Conflict & Family-Work Conflict

Time devoted to one role makes it difficult to participate in another role

WIF: Higher the position, greater the responsibilities • This would lead to more time away from the family

FIW: Chores and family commitments would intrude on time needed to successfully complete tasks on the job

The bottom line: STRESS

Work Interfering with Family (WIF)

Driven by the MNE’s need for the almighty “buck” and the ever-present threat of being called back prematurely

Expatriate would feel pressure to put the time in at work.

Family Interfering with Work (FIW)

Being away from the familiar scenes of home and friends

Family members need more support to help them through the “critical part” of adjustment.

Health Concerns

Several studies have linked these two types of conflicts with:

• Increased occurrence of hypertension, alcoholism, depression, psychological illness and

• A general dissatisfaction with life

Resulting in high turnover, absenteeism, low morale and poor performance.

In the War of Work-Family Balance…

Retention strategies used by the best U.S. corporations:

• Money

Unfortunately, there’s something that money cannot buy!!

A Better Solution….

Family-friendly benefits:

• Impact of job stress on family life and health

• Influence employees’ decisions to stay or leave

Why is Family-Friendly Policy Important?

Full-time employees work longer on average than 20 years ago

51% of families with children have 2 working parents, which is a 54% increase since 1977 (Abram, 2004).

What do the U.S. Firms Do Now?

CISCOOn-site store, dry cleaning service, a fitness center.

Merck & Co.4 on-site childcare centers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with capacity of 900 children.

S.C. JohnsonSpent 4.5 million in 2003 to expend its SC Johnson’s Childcare Learning Center.

Source: http://scjohnson.com

Are Working-mothers the Biggest Winner?

Not true !!

• X-generation working dads spend 3.5 hours a day with their kids

• 70% of working men would take pay cut to spend more time with family

• Almost 50% would turn down a promotion if family time will be less.

(Families & Work Institute, 2002)

Work-Family Conflict: - A Business Issue

The concept of both work and family have different significance and importance in different countries/cultures

Presence of family-supportive governmental policies moderate relationships between: • Demands, Resources, and Work-Family Conflicts

Companies have been developing family-friendly policies and practices • To alleviate tensions between these central life domains.

What Leads to Differences in Approaching Work-Family Conflict?

“Work-Family Conflict is based on a fairly simple theoretical perspective of role theory • Where conflicting demands coming from the two central

roles in our life lead to strain.”

Job dissatisfaction is associated with WFC

Work resources: organizational & supervisor support relate to less WFC

Approaching Work-Family Conflict Differently

Looking cross-nationally there are large discrepancies in the usefulness of specific practices of policies.

Childcare centers appeal to a large amount of people in the US

Whereas, in Mexico childcare centers are less relevant and critical

Explaining the Variance Between Different Cultures

China: Life satisfaction of

Chinese employees is influenced primarily by Work-Family conflict

Chinese people assign priority to work over family

U.S. & Mexico: American and Mexican

employees are influenced primarily by Family-Work Conflict

Americans and Mexicans prioritize family over work

Explaining the Variance Between Different Cultures (cont.)

Employees and families in China and Mexico view working long hours differently than American employees and families.

Differences are due to:

• The existence of more family ties in China and Mexico, which allow people in the two countries to focus more on work.

Legal Issues

U.S. China Mexico

Workweek 40 hours 44 hours 48 hours

Overtime

•Normally 150% of

regular paid

•Varies

•150% normally

•200% on day off

•300% on holidays

•Double normal rate

Holidays

•Not required,

•Agreement

•4 festivals

•7 days,

•2 weeks paid Christmas

bonus

Concerns Risen From Differences Among Countries

Childcare support

U.S. China Mexico

Babysitters, parents

Grandparents Mothers

PreschoolsFormal

preschool system

Fewer childcare centers available

Concerns Risen From Differences Among Countries

U.S. China & Mexico

Bring work home Stay at office

Overtime work pattern:

Reasons:

Technological constraint

Show effort of bringing propriety to family

Conclusion

Work-Family Conflict:

• Affect expatriate decision

• Related to cultural perception

• Benefit from organizational and social support

Questions?