Clash of Cultures? German Expatriates' Work-Life Boundary Adjustment in South Korea

Bader, Katharina, Froese, Fabian and Kraeh, Albert (2018) Clash of Cultures? German Expatriates' Work-Life Boundary Adjustment in South Korea. European Management Review, 15 (3). pp. 357-374. ISSN 1740-4754

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/emre.12102

Abstract

Managing work‐life balance abroad is considered as one of the key challenges associated with expatriation. That is particularly true when the enactment of the work‐life boundaries of expatriates' home and host countries diverge. Drawing from boundary theory, we investigate whether and how expatriates experience cross‐cultural challenges in terms of their work‐life boundaries abroad. We interviewed 28 German expatriates in South Korea because both cultures differ substantially in terms of their preferred work‐life boundaries. Our study shows that perceived work‐life boundary pressures in the foreign environment and willingness to adjust to the local work‐life boundary culture vary substantially among expatriates. Based on a function of these two forces, we develop a typology of four work‐life boundary adjustment styles and relate them to work‐life balance satisfaction. Furthermore, we identify individual and organizational factors that influence expatriates' work‐life boundary adjustment styles. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: expatriates, work‐life balance, work‐life conflict, boundary theory, boundary management styles, South Korea, Germany
Subjects: L900 Others in Social studies
N100 Business studies
Department: Faculties > Business and Law > Newcastle Business School
Depositing User: Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited: 16 Jan 2019 08:32
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 20:50
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/37596

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