Remote work, performance, and well-being: Unveiling the paradoxical impact of remote work on individual outcomes and the vital role of flexibility control

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Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

School of Business | Master's thesis

Authors

Date

2024

Department

Johtamisen laitos

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

mib

Language

en

Pages

55 + 7

Series

Abstract

After COVID-19, the emergence of flexible work arrangements has sparked debate among scholars and practitioners alike. While some studies highlight the benefits of remote work, others caution against its detrimental impacts on individuals’ well-being and performance. Though telecommuting literature has extensively delved into the pros and cons of remote work, few studies have explicitly explained these inconsistent findings. Therefore, this thesis seeks to further examine the paradoxical impacts of remote work on individual outcomes and the underlying factors influencing this relationship. Building on existing telecommuting literature and the Job Demands-Resources theory, I predict that flexibility control plays a significant role in the interplay between remote work, well-being, and performance. Data collected from 181 survey respondents worldwide revealed surprising results. Specifically, remote work itself has no significant impact on well-being and performance. Rather, the level of flexibility control individuals have over their work arrangements is the determining factor affecting work outcomes, regardless of the work mode. These findings highlight the crucial role of flexibility control and the need to consider relevant contextual factors when examining this multifaceted phenomenon. Despite its limitations, this study adds new insights into the topic, offering valuable implications for researchers and practitioners navigating the constantly evolving remote work landscape.

Description

Thesis advisor

van der Giessen, Mark

Keywords

remote work, telecommuting, well-being, performance, individual outcomes, flexibility control, post-covid-19, job demands-resources

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Citation

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202408185486

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[gradu] Kauppakorkeakoulu / BIZ