Employee communication channels and social ties in organisations when teleworking and working on-site: a latent profile analysis

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to test the relationship between various communication channels (in person, on screen, on the phone, messaging), the team feeling and perceived support by colleagues under different intensities of telework.

Design/methodology/approach

European Social Survey (ESS) Round 10 (2020–22) data file edition 3.0 was used for data analysis. The sample of this study consisted of 9,500 workers from ISCO groups 1–4 from 19 European Union countries. Latent profile analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

Five communication and telework intensity profiles were revealed: solo office workers, connected teleworkers, solo teleworkers, all-mode office communicators and office classics. Demographic and professional characteristics predicted employees’ membership in specific telework and communication channel profiles. The significant between-profile differences regarding one’s team feelings and perceived support from colleagues were observed. The highest levels of team feeling and expectations of getting work-related help from colleagues were observed among office classics, characterised by all types of communication except on-screen communication. On the contrary, solo teleworkers who worked from home and rarely used all multi-mode communication channels to contact their colleagues reported the lowest levels of team feeling and social support.

Originality/value

Using representative data from 19 European countries (N = 9,500), this study provides insight into how combinations of telework intensity and communication forms relate to different levels of team feeling and perceived support among colleagues. It highlights the importance of using diverse communication for maintaining social support and team cohesion.

Citation

Lazauskaite-Zabielske, J., Urbanaviciute, I., Ziedelis, A. and Jakstiene, R. (2024), "Employee communication channels and social ties in organisations when teleworking and working on-site: a latent profile analysis", Employee Relations, Vol. 46 No. 8, pp. 1723-1743. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-01-2024-0048