Telecommuting intensity and job stress: Is employee remote work support a moderator?

• Main Author: Gomez, Sherwin Lorenzo D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Telecommuting; Social networks; Job stress; Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_psych/51; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_psych/article/1053/viewcontent/2023_Gomez_Telecommuting_Intensity_and_Job_Stress__Is_Employee_Remote_Work_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study investigated the moderating role of social support and technology support and how it can buffer the known negative effects of telecommuting on job stress. Using a cross-sectional survey, the study analyzed (N=213) responses from employees working in the IT-BPM industry in the Philippines. Key components of Baruch and Nicholson’s framework for effective telecommuting were used to ground and explain the results of the study. In analyzing the results of the study, a moderation analysis was used to investigate the buffering role of social support and technology support on the relationship between telecommuting intensity and job stress. The results of the analysis showed no correlation between telecommuting intensity and job stress. Additionally, no moderation by social support and technology support was also observed, however, a negative relationship between technology support and job stress was seen. A hierarchical regression analysis of the study’s covariates showed that job level negatively impacted job stress. Further research direction on telecommuting literature were also discussed. Practical and theoretical implications for human resources practitioners, organizations, managers, and leaders were also provided. Given the results of the study, organizations should still continue to provide support for employees during telecommuting with emphasis on technology support given the challenges that employees experience in the context of technology in the Philippines.