Work-life integration promoting happiness at work: Moderation of work stress

Abstract

Orientation: This study examines the phenomenon of blue-collar workers’ struggles in organisations in various sectors in developing countries, such as Indonesia, to achieve happiness at work (HAW) with the challenges of a tiring work life.

Research purpose: This study aims to investigate the role of work-life integration (WLI) in promoting HAW and moderation of work stress. The study population consists of blue-collar workers in various sectors in big cities in Indonesia.

Motivation for the study: The study was carried out to supplement research in the field of WLI and HAW in blue-collar workers and the importance of understanding how WLI impacts HAW.

Research approach/design and method: The research sample technique is purposive sampling, obtaining a sample size of 1885. Research data collection is done using a questionnaire instrument. Data analysis uses partial least squares.

Main findings: The study’s results indicate that WLI, with its main dimension of WLI, has a positive impact on HAW on blue-collar workers in big cities in Indonesia. Furthermore, work stress can weaken the positive impact of WLI on HAW.

Practical/managerial implications: This study contributes to the insight of employers to form employee-friendly policies by considering the integrated work focus between work life and personal life, which will have an impact on increasing work happiness, especially for blue-collar workers.

Contribution/value-add: Work-life integration for blue-collar workers is a very significant transformation, where work life and personal life are not contradictory but mutually reinforcing, giving rise to a positive psychological effect that has an impact on higher happiness.