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

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.