Abstract
The digitalisation of work is resulting in a transformation in the relationship between employees and employers as well as the perception of quality of life. Under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals whose work could be done with digital tools were directed to work remotely. Performing work duties at a distance from the workplace, colleagues, and supervisors affects the workplace resources available to employees and can have an impact on employee well-being. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between remote working and employee well-being. The research hypothesis was that there is a relationship between employee well-being and the level of digitisation of work performed, as measured by the frequency of remote working. This article presents the results of empirical research conducted in January 2021, using the CAWI method, on a representative sample of Polish workers (n = 1000). An exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression were carried out. The results point to the three-dimensional nature of employee well-being, which includes workplace relationships, health, and work–life balance. Based on the results, working exclusively remotely was shown to negatively affect well-being in terms of workplace relationships and work–life balance. There was no statistically significant association between remote working and subjective health assessment. The results have important implications for the management of employee well-being in remote working settings. Originality/value lies in the fact that the article provides practical guidance in planning hybrid work arrangements.
Highlights
It would instead be advisable to use remote working occasionally, but not exclusively, from the perspective of well-being in the dimension of workplace relationships. These results extend the knowledge on the impact of remote working on relationships with co-workers, an important dimension of employee well-being
The results were able to fill the research gap in terms of proving significant relationships between the studied constructs. They provided information on the impact of remote working on factors making up employee well-being
The paper extends theoretical knowledge on the components of employee well-being by proposing a model including workplace relationships, physical and mental health, and work–life balance and their relationship with the intensity of remote working
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The COVID-19 pandemic caused sudden changes in work organisation (e.g., working from home, virtual teamwork) and affected workers (e.g., through social distancing, stress, and unemployment) [1]. It has imposed the need to digitise work and forced a focus on the quality of life and health of employees. Studies have shown negative effects of COVID-19 on well-being [2], job satisfaction, and family life [3]. Throughout the pandemic, employee well-being has become one of the main priorities of employers [4]
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