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. 2013 Feb 1;82(1):49-58.
doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2012.11.002.

Work-family boundary strategies: Stability and alignment between preferred and enacted boundaries

Samantha K Ammons  1
Affiliations

Work-family boundary strategies: Stability and alignment between preferred and enacted boundaries

Samantha K Ammons. J Vocat Behav. .

Abstract

Are individuals bounding work and family the way they would like? Much of the work-family boundary literature focuses on whether employees are segmenting or integrating work with family, but does not explore the boundaries workers would like to have, nor does it examine the fit between desired and enacted boundaries, or assess boundary stability. In this study, 23 respondents employed at a large Fortune 500 company were interviewed about their work-family boundaries before and after their teams underwent a cultural change initiative that sought to loosen workplace norms and allow employees more autonomy to decide when and where they performed their job tasks. Four distinct boundary strategies emerged from the data, with men and parents of young children having better alignment between preferred and enacted boundaries than women and those without these caregiving duties. Implications for boundary theory and research are discussed.

Keywords: Boundary Theory; Boundary management; Work and family; Work-family interface.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Boundary Fit versus Boundary Congruence
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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