Longitudinal analysis of flexibility, work-life conflict, and engagement: the moderating role of educational level and gender

This study examines the relationship between workplace flexibility and employee engagement, focusing on the mediating role of work-life conflict and the moderating effects of educational attainment and gender. Data were obtained from two waves of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (January-February 2020 and March-November 2021), with a final sample of 573 European employees. Path analysis with moderated mediation was conducted using structural equation modeling. The results demonstrate that educational attainment significantly moderates the indirect relation of flexibility on engagement via work-life conflict, while gender does not. Notably, employees with higher levels of education benefit more from workplace flexibility, exhibiting stronger positive indirect effects across multiple levels of tertiary education. These findings suggest that considering employees’ educational profiles in the design of flexibility policies may enhance their effectiveness in promoting engagement and mitigating work-life conflict.