SME employee perceptions about future work–life flexibility: findings from New Zealand

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dc.citation.volumeOnline Preprint 17/06/2025
dc.contributor.authorScott J
dc.contributor.authorMacpherson W
dc.contributor.authorTootell B
dc.contributor.authorKobayashi K
dc.contributor.authorKelly S
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-18T23:25:38Z
dc.date.available2025-06-18T23:25:38Z
dc.date.issued2025-06-17
dc.description.abstractEmployees of New Zealand small and medium enterprises (SMEs) desire more work–life flexibility and are seeking change in the workplace. Applying institutional theory and the related concept of institutional work as our theoretical frame, we explored employee perceptions about working arrangements and found a substantial desire for change. Specifically, 71% of 619 employees surveyed wanted more work–life flexibility, with the research highlighting three constructs that contribute to employee perceptions about their work and nonwork interface: working pattern control, job flexibility, and a sense of being respected. The findings are significant and novel as they illustrate a renewed desire on the part of employees to change work arrangement practices in response to recent lived experiences. Given these demands for flexibility are now being driven from an employee rather than employer perspective, this could lead to the development of new normative expectations that would place pressure on SMEs to change work arrangements in response to employees’ active agency. In current high-employment environments, employee flexibility is likely to facilitate a recruitment and retention advantage, and each of the identified constructs will potentially play a fundamental major role in employee–employer relationships.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.identifier.citationScott J, Macpherson W, Tootell B, Kobayashi K, Kelly S. (2025). SME employee perceptions about future work–life flexibility: findings from New Zealand. Labour & Industry. Online Preprint 17/06/2025.
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/10301763.2025.2513117
dc.identifier.eissn2325-5676
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn1030-1763
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/73094
dc.publisherTaylor and Francis Group
dc.relation.isPartOfLabour & Industry
dc.rights(c) The author/sen
dc.rights.licenseCC BY-NC-NDen
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.titleSME employee perceptions about future work–life flexibility: findings from New Zealand
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id501171
pubs.organisational-groupMassey Business School
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