WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND JOB (IN)SECURITY IN THE ESS DATA: COMPARISON OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA

Work-life balance (WLB) and job security (JS) stand as crucial job characteristics. The aim of the paper is to describe the level of perceived WLB and JS, the correlation between them and their correlation with other selected variables in the responses of Czech and Slovak respondents. The sample consisted of European Social Survey (ESS) round2 (2004), round 5 (2010) and round 6 (2012) respondents from two countries. Findings showed significant differences between CZ and SK respondents in the level of WLB satisfaction and the level of perceived JS - in both cases the higher levels were reported by Czech respondents. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between WLB satisfaction and: family to work conflict (negative relationship) and feelings of cheerfulness and good mood (positive relationship) in both examined countries. Significant correlations were present also in the analysing the relationship between JS and job autonomy (positive relationship) in both countries. Both WLB and JS variables significantly inter-correlated and also correlated separately with feelings of happiness, good mood and with active social life of respondents. Findings emphasised that WLB and JS belong to significant characteristics of not working life exclusively but with subjective well-being and characteristics of non-working life and family environment as well.