The main aim of the presentation is to identify and analyze relevant dimensions of well-being in terms of knowledge workers and investigate how they translate into life satisfaction. The Author focuses on analysis of work-family balance of knowledge workers in Poland, its determinants and consequences.

1. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Work-family balance of Knowledge
Workers in Poland
Aleksandra Wilczynska
Thesis Coordinators:
Dr. Joan Torrent Sellens & Dr. Dominik Batorski
Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3)
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
Warsaw, 6 June 2014
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

2. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Outline
1 Introduction
2 Knowledge workers
3 Work-family balance
4 Research Objectives
5 Methodology
6 Preliminary Results
7 Other Studies
8 References
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

3. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
A few words about me
PhD project
A few words about me
Master Degree at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of
Economic Sciences (2011)
PhD Candidate at the Interdisciplinary Internet Institute
(IN3), UOC (2012-present)
Member of Interdisciplinary Research Group on ICT’s (i2TIC)
Visiting Scholar at the University of Warsaw (March-June
2014)
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

4. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
A few words about me
PhD project
The research project
The presented research is a
part of a PhD project:
From standard of living to
quality of life. Assessment
of objective and subjective
well-being of knowledge
workers. Figure 1 : Simplified version of SEM
model
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

5. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
A few words about me
PhD project
Work-family balance as one of the
capabilities.
RESOURCES CONVERSION
FACTORS
CAPABILITIES PERSONALITY LIFE SATISFACTION
Income Age Mental health Beliefs Partial Satisfactions
Savings Gender Physical health Attitudes Cognitive Well-being
Material Goods Marital Status Work-family balance Actions Emotional Well-being
Children Social relations Life Desire
Place of living Job security
Personal Security
Table 1 : Draft list of variables used in SEM
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

6. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Definition
Knowledge workers: Conceptualization vs
Operationalization
Conceptualization
Someone whose work requires levels of creativity, intellective
skills and theoretical rather than purely contextual knowledge.
Operationalization
All those
who work in the top three standard occupational
classifications (managers, professionals, associate
professionals)
with high levels skills, indicated by degree or equivalent
qualifications
who perform tasks that require expert thinking and
complex communication skills with the assistance of
computers.
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

7. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Definition & Models
Work-Family Balance in numbers
Measures of Work-family balance
Work-family balance
Work-family Balance
Work-family balance can be defined as
(. . . ) satisfaction and good functioning at work and at home,
with a minimum role of conflict
Main models of work-family balance
Segmentation model
Spillover model
Compensation model
Instrumental model
Conflict model
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

8. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Definition & Models
Work-Family Balance in numbers
Measures of Work-family balance
Work-life balance in Poland
Time worked per week - 40.7h (37.2h)
Time worked per week (self-employed)- 53h (44.8h)
Time spent on leisure activities - 14.2h (15h)
Time spent on domestic activities (including care) - 31.4h
(32.8h)
Part-time jobs - 7.1% (19.1%)
Shift work - 31.6% (18%)
Temporary contracts - 26.8% (13.8%)
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

9. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Definition & Models
Work-Family Balance in numbers
Measures of Work-family balance
WFB in Knowledge Economy
Time spent on working increases with earnings
Work-life balance problems grow together with education
Managers and professionals report work-family conflictmore
frequently than other occupational groups
Use of information and communication technologies blurs the
boundary between work and home sphere
Although ICT’s enhance work performance, they casue
shrinkage of family time and lower its quality
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

10. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Definition & Models
Work-Family Balance in numbers
Measures of Work-family balance
Measures of Work-family balance
Time use variables
Time devoted to work
Time spent on commuting between work and home
Days spent away from home due to work trips
Time devoted to family
Time spent on domestic activities
. . .
Subjective measures
Being able to relax and forget about work
Harmony between work and family
Interference of work into family life
. . .
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

11. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Definition & Models
Work-Family Balance in numbers
Measures of Work-family balance
Our Approach
Problem No sufficient data to construct a standard measure of
work-family balance (no time use variables measuring
”family time”, no variables measuring work-family
interaction)
Solution We model causal relationship between problems in
family sphere and work sphere, time devoted to work
and working from home with use of ICTs
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

12. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Research Objectives
Research Questions
Research Objectives
To investigate if extended work dimension
may harm quality of family life.
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

13. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Research Objectives
Research Questions
Research questions
Are the family problems triggered by work problems?
Are family problems caused by the extended amount of time
spent at work?
Is the family life of persons who work long hours more
adversely influenced if they report work problems?
Does using ICT’s at home for professional reasons increases
family problems?
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

14. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Measures
Model
Data
Measures
Family Problems Index
Problems in marriage (self-reported and reported by
partner)
Problems with children
Problems with elderly relatives
Work Problems Index
Feeling the job is dirty, tiring or dangerous
Overload of duties
Unjust treatment at work
Other work-related measures
Average number of hours worked weekly
Using the Internet and e-mail at home for work
reasons reasons
Managerial position
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

15. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Measures
Model
Data
Model
f .problemsi = β0 + β1sexi + β2agei + β3inci + β4childreni
+β5manageri + β6w.hoursi + β7w.problemsi
+β8w.hours ∗ w.problemsi + εi
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

16. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Measures
Model
Data
Social Diagnosis 2013
13,000 Workers in the sample
Out of which 2,490 Knowledge workers
1,731 cases used in the analysis (married or living with
partner)
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

17. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Samply Description
Sample description
Type of Worker
Other Worker Knowledge Worker
Mean Column % Mean Column %
Income 2124 3385
Age 44 41
Children 1.2 1.14
Working hours 42 40
Family Problems 25.87 25.42
Work Problems 7.08 7.28
Manager 9.3% 25.9%
Sex
Female 40.1% 58.3%
Male 59.9% 41.7%
Internet
Never 53.0% 15.4%
Sometimes 25.8% 38.3%
Last week 21.1% 46.2%
Work Type No WP, ≤45h 45.7% 53.3%
WP, ≤45h 23.8% 21.1%
Workaholics 16.7% 15%
Overworkers 13.7% 10.5%
Table 2 : Characteristics of Knowledge Workers and Other workers
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

18. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Samply Description
Sample Description
Figure 2 : Usage of the Internet at home for work reasons
46,22%
38,37%
15,41%
Usage of Internet at home for
professional reasons
last week
sometimes
never
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

19. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Samply Description
Sample Description
Figure 3 : Workers classification according to working time and work
problems
Worker Type
OverworkersWorkaholicsProblems, working less
then 45h
No problems, working
less than 45h
Percent
60,0%
50,0%
40,0%
30,0%
20,0%
10,0%
0,0%
10,54%
15,03%
21,14%
53,29%
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

20. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Samply Description
Sample Description
Figure 4 : Using the Internet for work at home and family problems
26.29
25.78
25.60
26.33
25.89
25.93
Never Sometimes Regularly
25.525.625.725.825.926.026.126.226.326.4
Frequency of working from home using the Internet
Familyproblemsscore
Knowledge Workers
Other Workers
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

21. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Job Satisfaction of knowledge workers
Employment Flexibility and Job Security as
Determinants of Job Satisfaction. The Case
of Polish Knowledge Workers I
Aim of the study
To investigate relationships between job security,
employment flexibility and job satisfaction
To show how these factors impact groups of knowledge
workers and other workers differently
Methods
Data from Social Diagnosis 2011
Two logistic models, separate for knowledge workers and
other workers
Job Satisfaction as a dependent variable
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

22. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Job Satisfaction of knowledge workers
Employment Flexibility and Job Security as
Determinants of Job Satisfaction. The Case
of Polish Knowledge Workers II
Type of contract, insecure source of income, overload of
duties andunjust treatment at workplace as independent
variables
Results
For all employees job insecurity is the most influential
determinant of job satisfaction
Flexible workers much more vulnerable to job insecurities
Job satisfaction of knowledge workers more influenced by
job security
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

23. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
References I
Clark, S. C. (2000).
Work/Family Border Theory: A New Theory of Work/Family
Balance.
Human Relations, 53(6):747–770.
Eurofund (2012).
Working time and work – life balance in a life course
perspective.
Technical report, Eurofund, Dublin.
European Comission (2013).
Labour Force Survey.
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

24. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
References II
Guest, D. E. (2002).
Perspectives on the Study of Work-life Balance.
Social Science Information, 41(2):255–279.
OECD (2014).
Better Life Index. Poland.
Pichler, F. (2008).
Determinants of Work-life Balance: Shortcomings in the
Contemporary Measurement of WLB in Large-scale Surveys.
Social Indicators Research, 92(3):449–469.
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland

25. Introduction
Knowledge workers
Work-family balance
Research Objectives
Methodology
Preliminary Results
Other Studies
References
Thank you for your attention
Aleksandra Wilczynska Work-family balance of Knowledge Workers in Poland