Voluntary part-time and mandatory full-time telecommuting: a comparative longitudinal analysis of the impact of managerial, work and individual characteristics on job performance
International Journal of Manpower
ISSN: 0143-7720
Article publication date: 28 December 2021
Issue publication date: 22 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Based on self-determination theory (SDT), the present study aims to assess the effect of managerial (manager trust and support), work (job autonomy) and individual (intrinsic motivation) characteristics on job performance of telecommuters in a pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak period and is further studied longitudinally after six months of continued mandatory telecommuting.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from information technology (IT) sector employees in three phases and model fitness, reliability and validity of the data for all three phases were assessed through CFA models, while the hypotheses were tested through path analysis.
Findings
Perceived manager trust and support increases job performance and the effect strengthens with an increase in telecommuting extent. Job autonomy had similar effects with the exception that employees did not enjoy autonomy when mandatory telecommuting arrangement was initially introduced. Lastly, intrinsic motivation fades away as employees continue to work permanently from their homes.
Practical implications
Permanent full-time telecommuting is expected to continue for the unforeseeable future; the present study suggests that while ensuring increased trust, support and job autonomy to employees, managers must also ensure that employees do not feel professionally isolated and attempt to keep individuals intrinsically motivated.
Originality/value
The authors assess the effect of managerial (manager trust and support), work (job autonomy) and individual (intrinsic motivation) characteristics on job performance under three different types of telecommuting arrangements (voluntary part-time, mandatory full-time and continued mandatory full-time) by collecting data in three different time frames from the same individuals.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Prof. Imran Saleem, Ms. Shagun Bakshi, Ms. Vandini Jeswani, Mr. Mohd Hassan, and Mr. Mohd Areeb for helpful comments and suggestions. Special thanks to all the research participants who took time out of their busy schedules and responded to our survey measure. All errors are our own.This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for profit sectors and authors do not have any conflict of interest.
Citation
Jamal, M.T., Anwar, I. and Khan, N.A. (2022), "Voluntary part-time and mandatory full-time telecommuting: a comparative longitudinal analysis of the impact of managerial, work and individual characteristics on job performance", International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 43 No. 6, pp. 1316-1337. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-05-2021-0281
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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