Aims: To examine the mediating role of employee well‐being on the relationship between work‐life balance practices, the need for achievement and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia. Background: Work‐life balance practices are associated with employee perceptions of the need for achievement and well‐being which subsequently influence their intention to leave the organization. This study contributes new knowledge to nursing studies on work‐life balance in an Asian and Islamic society where the expectations for women are to focus on family rather than career. Design: A cross‐sectional, explanatory mixed methodology. Methods: This is a two‐phase study conducted between 2015–2017 with 401 nurses in East Malaysia. In Phase 1, researchers surveyed 379 nurses to test eight hypotheses and in Phase 2 researchers interviewed 22 nurses to explore the results of Phase 1. Results: Phase 1 revealed job satisfaction mediates the relationship between work‐life balance practices (e.g. flexibility and choice in working hours, supportive supervision), financial success, and intention to leave. However, life satisfaction and money as a motivator did not mediate such relationships. Phase 2 identified four important factors that cast light on survey results: working conditions of Malaysian nurses; inadequate compensation in the public healthcare sector; team‐based practices; and pressure on senior nurses in both administrative and clinical roles. Conclusion: This is one of the first studies to investigate work‐life balance issues among nurses in Malaysia. Outcomes of this study extend the debates on work‐life balance and employee well‐being in an Asian Islamic social context. Impact: The use of flexible working arrangements and collectivist teamwork approaches, improving compensation and employment benefits and eliminating the 'time‐based job promotion' policy may help to mitigate work‐life balance issues and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.
摘要: 目的: 本研究旨在检测马来西亚护士的工作—生活平衡实践、成就需要和离职意愿之间的关系中, 员工幸福感的中介作用。 背景: 工作—生活平衡实践与员工对成就和幸福感需求的认知相关, 进而影响他们离开组织的意愿。在亚洲和伊斯兰社会, 女性的期望是关注家庭而不是事业, 而此项研究能为该地的护理研究的工作—生活平衡提供新知识。 设计: 一种分类排列、解释性的混合方法。 方法: 这是一项在2015至2017年间进行的两阶段研究, 研究对象为东马来西亚的401名护士。在第一阶段, 研究人员调查了379名护士, 测试了8个假设; 在第二阶段, 研究人员采访了22名护士, 探讨了第一阶段的结果。 结果: 第一阶段揭示了工作满意度能调节工作—生活平衡实践 (如工作时间的灵活性和选择、支持性监督) 、财务成功和离职意愿之间的关系。然而, 生活满意度和金钱作为激励因素并未调节这种关系。第二阶段确定了影响调查结果的四个重要因素: 马来西亚护士的工作条件; 公共医疗保健部门的薪酬不足; 基于团队的实践; 以及高级护士在行政和临床工作中面临的压力。 结论: 这是马来西亚最早调查护士工作—生活平衡问题的研究之一。本研究的结果扩展了亚洲—伊斯兰社会背景下关于工作—生活平衡和员工幸福感的争论。 影响: 采用灵活的工作安排和集体主义的团队合作方式, 提高薪酬和就业福利, 取消"基于时间的工作晋升"政策, 可能有助于缓解马来西亚护士的工作—生活平衡问题和离职意愿。