Increasingly workers are seeking out jobs that enable a sense of balance between work and life outside of work. However, demands on workers’ time, and the proliferation of technology and working arrangements that provide flexibility in where and when work is done blur the boundaries of what is “work” time and what is “non-work” time. Stress associated with trying to manage these competing responsibilities can reduce engagement, well-being, and cause valuable workers to seek out other employment opportunities.
Research supports that organizations benefit from paying attention to preferences of individual employees, implementing practices that help define work boundaries, and assisting employees to effectively manage the conflicts that inevitably arise between work and home life.
As a researcher, I want to understand circumstances in which work and non-work life might enrich and support, rather than drain, one another. I am interested in doing research that identifies proactive management strategies that can reduce turnover, and foster employee engagement through a holistic focus on employee experiences in both work and non-work life domains.
Recent peer-reviewed research:
Demksy, C., Fritz, C., & Ellis, A. M. (2021). Better work for a better weekend: Relationships between job performance, positive affect, and pleasurable weekend experiences. Occupational Health Science, 5, 129-140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-021-00088-3
Chen, Z., & Ellis, A. M. (2021) Crossover of daily job stressors among dual-career couples: A dyadic examination. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42, 668-683. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2520
Demsky, C., Ellis, A. M., & Fritz, C. (2014). Shrugging it off: Psychological detachment as a mediator of the relationship between workplace aggression and work-family conflict. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19, 195-205; http://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2014-09576-001
Fritz, C., Ellis, A. M., Demsky, C., Lin, B., & Guros, F. (2013). Embracing work breaks: Recovery from work stress. Organizational Dynamics, 42, 274-280; http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-38840-007
Allison M. Ellis 