The moderation role of personal characteristics in the relation between work environmental characteristics and the number of over hours employees are willing to work

Purpose
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relation between work environmental characteristics and the number of over hours employees are willing to work and the moderation role of personal characteristics. Furthermore, we analyze this relation for the demographic groups of employees as well as the contractual working hours of employees.
Data and method
This thesis will make use of a vignette study and a questionnaire survey which have been conducted in the ABP / ROA public sector 2017 survey in the Netherlands. This survey was answered by roughly 20.000 employees. Since we have 6 vignette observations for each employee, we have approximately 12.0000 usable observations.
Results
The analyses document a significant and positive relation between work environmental characteristics and the number of over hours employees are willing to work. We find this relation is partially moderated by bad health and age. Furthermore, we find that the number of over hours employees are willing to work decreases with age and increases with contractual hours in general.
Contributions
This thesis aims at indicating how work environmental characteristics affect the number of over hours employees are willing to work and to determine which employees (personal characteristics) are more sensitive to certain environment characteristics when deciding work over hours. Moreover, the results could also provide suggestions on which workers are able to deal with the increasing job demands due to increases in overtime hours, and which workers should be avoided when allocating job tasks which involve over hours.
Policy implications
Due to overtime work becomes more and more needed in the world, as a result of tight labor markets, employers need to find ways to make employees to engage voluntarily in their job and tasks. This thesis’ results are therefore of importance as they can help understand which work environment factors can positively influence the number of over hours employees are willing to work and which personal characteristics factors can strengthen the positive relationship between work  environmental characteristics and the number of over hours employees are willing to work.