Who is motivated to request i‐deals? expectancy theory‐based analysis in the context of older workers

Abstract I‐deals provide flexibility and play an important role in sustaining workforce participation among older workers (a growing segment of the workforce). Employee decisions to request i‐deals are likely shaped by various cognitions, including perceived benefits of i‐deals and expectancies of successful negotiation with their employer. However, what shapes these cognitions has been overlooked in i‐deals research. Unfavourable perceptions of value or expectancy of i‐deals can serve as significant barriers and curtail access to i‐deals. We apply expectancy theory of motivation and examine factors that influence i‐deal‐related beliefs and i‐deal request behaviour. We tested our predictions using two different i‐deals: workload reduction and development i‐deals. Data ( N = 715) were collected in three waves, with antecedents at T1, expectancy beliefs and intention to seek i‐deals a month later at T2, and i‐deal request behaviours six months later at T3. We found that career ambition influenced valence of development i‐deals while work–life conflict influenced valence of workload reduction i‐deals. Generalized self‐efficacy predicted expectancy beliefs, and perceptions of i‐deal availability predicted instrumentality beliefs (for both i‐deal types). Valence, expectancy and instrumentality beliefs were related to intention to seek i‐deals, which in turn predicted actual i‐deal requests in the following 6 months.