Examining the influence of climate, supervisor guidance, and behavioral integrity on work-family conflict: A demands and resources approach

In this study, we assess a multilevel approach to work interference with family (WIF) by examining the influence of unit-level work-family climate, as well as the importance of supervisors' spoken guidance and their behavioral integrity in helping employees process social information about work-family issues. We propose that there are two important ways in which supervisors may influence their subordinates' WIF-through their spoken guidance regarding managing work-family conflict and through their behavioral integrity-employee perceptions of the degree to which supervisors' spoken work-family guidance aligns with their behaviors to help employees manage work and family on the job. Results from a sample of 628 employees of a health system, using path analytic tests of moderated mediation, provide support for the mediated effect of family-supportive climate on employee work-family conflict (through supervisory work-family guidance) and for a second-stage moderation in which the effect of guidance on WIF is stronger (weaker) when employees perceive high (low) levels of supervisor work-family behavioral integrity. We discuss the implications of these findings for the study of family-supportive work environments and work-family conflict. Limitations of this study and directions for future research are also presented. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.