Examining the mediating role of work-family balance in the core self-evaluations – organizational performance relationship: a multilevel study

Abstract

Purpose – The relationship between core self-evaluations (CSE) and organizational performance is yet to be explained. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of work-family enrichment (WFE), family-work enrichment (FWE) and work-family balance (WFB) in the relationship between CSE and organizational performance. Design/Methodology/Approach - Data were obtained from a sample of 2,312 employees working within 188 public and private organizations operating in the current context of the post-2008 economic and financial crises that lasted until up to 2019 in Greece. Multilevel structural equation modeling analyses were used due to the nested nature of data. Findings - The results showed that (a) WFE and WFB serially and positively mediate the relationship between CSE and organizational performance; (b) FWE and WFB serially and positively mediate the relationship between CSE and organizational performance; (c) the constructs of the operating framework depend on factors such as gender, working hours, level of education, and position of employees in the organizational hierarchy. Research limitations / Implications – Data was collected at a short period in 2019, thus, restricting dynamic causal inferences into instant changes. The findings suggest that organizations will benefit from developing work-family balance policies and practices that can improve organizational performance. Originality/Value - Only a handful of studies have previously examined the relations between core self-evaluations, work-family enrichment, work-family balance, and organizational performance in an economic and financial crises environment.