Self-compassion, Employee Burnout and Performance: Serial Mediation by Free Time Management and Flow Experience

Purpose - In the last decade, researchers have shown growing interest in finding the variables related to employee burnout and performance. Recent studies have shown that various positive psychological concepts, particularly flow experience and self-compassion, have positive effects on employee burnout and performance. Aims - This study aims to investigate the role of self-compassion on burnout and performance through free time management and flow experience at work. Design/Methodology - Using a comprehensive model with a cross-sectional design, a survey study was constructed with a sample of 214 employees, collected from both public and private industry employees. SPSS v24 was used to test the serial mediator’s model. Findings: The results demonstrated that self-compassion reduce burnout and enhance performance and these relationships are mediated serially by free time management and flow experience. Limitations of the study - This study used self-report instruments with a cross sectional design. Future studies are suggested to use experience-sampling method to avoid common method bias and to measure instant flow experience. Practical implications - Practices that increase self-compassion, free time management and flow activities can be beneficial to enhance job performance while reducing burnout. Moreover, encouraging self-growth, autonomy, and feedback can foster flow state at work. Originality/value - Less attention was given to free time management and this study provided support for the importance of administering employee’s time outside the work.