Public Employees’ Experience of Work-Family Conflict and Emotional Exhaustion: Lessons for Work from Home during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Fiji

Ali, Inayah and Appana, Subhash and Narayan, Jashwini J. and Tofinga, Buriata (2025) Public Employees’ Experience of Work-Family Conflict and Emotional Exhaustion: Lessons for Work from Home during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Fiji. Journal of Pacific Studies, 44 . pp. 70-92. ISSN 1011-3029

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Abstract

This study examines the effect of work-family conflict on emotional exhaustion among Fiji’s public sector employees during enforced work-from-home (WFH) due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. A quantitative survey was conducted with 100 participants and then empirically analysed via PLS-SEM. Findings revealed that family interference with work (FIW) had a positive and significant effect on the emotional exhaustion of public employees. Similarly, work interference
with family (WIF) on emotional exhaustion had the same effect. However, FIW has a more substantial impact on emotional exhaustion compared to WIF. This study highlights key strategies for public policymakers and human resource managers for better work-life balance of public employees in the post-COVID-19 era of enforced WFH. Suggestions are made at the policy level, managerial level and for home-based teleworkers. The theoretical contribution of this study is
integrating role theory and conservation of resource theory for a comprehensive explanation for emotional exhaustion due to work-family conflict via resource loss. Studies on flexible working arrangements in Fiji’s workforce are rare, and this study is the first of its kind in the context of
enforced WFH. The distinct challenges in Fiji’s case as barriers to effectively WFH are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE)
Depositing User:	Jashwini Narayan
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2025 03:00
Last Modified:	29 Jan 2025 03:00
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/14805

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