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Precarious contours of work–family conflict: The case of nurses in Turkey

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  • Canet Tuba SarıtaÅŸ

Abstract

This article examines the impact of the neoliberal restructuring of health services on female nurses in Turkey. It provides a qualitative analysis of work–family conflict, establishing that not only work but also family life has become more precarious. The contours of precariousness of both work and family are analysed through interviews with 50 female nurses working full time in different areas of health service provision. The findings suggest that the neoliberal restructuring of health services has led to staffing deficits along with workload intensification, unpredictable work schedules and poor organisational support. This has increased work–family conflict, defined as a form of precariousness because it heightens the difficulties, risks and insecurities entailed in balancing family-related expectations with increasing work demands for female nurses. This precariousness makes spousal support critical if nurses are to be able to address work–family conflict and leads to nurses’ compliance with unfavourable working conditions as a way to resolve the mutual interference of family and work. The increased subordination of life to work has resulted from the neoliberal managerialisation of health services, creating precarisation in the lives of female nurses. JEL Codes: D1, J2, J7, J81

Suggested Citation

  • Canet Tuba SarıtaÅŸ, 2020. "Precarious contours of work–family conflict: The case of nurses in Turkey," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 31(1), pages 59-75, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:31:y:2020:i:1:p:59-75
    DOI: 10.1177/1035304619879327
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sharon C. Bolton, 2004. "A Simple Matter of Control? NHS Hospital Nurses and New Management," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(2), pages 317-333, March.
    2. Martina Boese & Iain Campbell & Winsome Roberts & Joo-Cheong Tham, 2013. "Temporary migrant nurses in Australia: Sites and sources of precariousness," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 24(3), pages 316-339, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Female nurses; healthcare labour process; neoliberal restructuring of health services; nursing; patient–customer relations; precariousness; precarisation; privatisation; shift work; work–family conflict;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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