Innovative Work Behaviour: The Impact of Comprehensive HR System Perceptions and the Role of Work--Life Conflict

Human resource (HR) systems have the potential to both foster innovative work behaviour (IWB) and reduce work--life conflict (WLC)--enabling employees to engage in IWB. We investigate the proposed relationships between comprehensive HR systems, WLC and IWB using variance-based structural equation modelling. We found that HR systems that are perceived as comprehensive significantly enhance IWB and decrease feelings of WLC. Contrary to our expectation, we found a significant yet positive effect of WLC on IWB. Employees may respond to WLC constructively by being innovative, improving their environment and making the work--life interface manageable. By promoting IWB, HR systems might also help employees to deal with residual--and, perhaps, unavoidable--levels of WLC.