The relationships of work-family conflict and core self-evaluations with informal learning in a managerial context

Existing research on informal learning has been largely descriptive, anecdotal, and relatively limited regarding its antecedents. This study represents a step forward towards addressing this gap in the training and development literature by examining the relationships of work-family conflict and core self-evaluations with informal learning among managers. The sample included 225 managers companywide from a casual-theme restaurant chain in the United States. The results demonstrated that time-based work interference with family conflict (WIF) had a negative relationship with informal learning, but core self-evaluations had a positive relationship. Further, core self-evaluations moderated the WIF-informal learning relationship. Counter to the hypothesized relationship, managers higher in core self-evaluations engaged in less informal learning as work-family conflict increased. This study broadens the nomological network of informal learning and highlights that organizations need to limit time demands at work that cause work-family conflict to facilitate managers' informal learning.