Understanding work experience in epidemic-induced telecommuting: The roles of misfit, reactance, and collaborative technologies

Boying Li, Chenyang Xue, Yue Cheng, Eric T.K. Lim and Chee-Wee Tan

Journal of Business Research, 2023, vol. 154, issue C

Abstract: In the management of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the mandated closure of workplaces and stay-at-home orders have forced workers to adapt to a prolonged period of unplanned telecommuting, which we term epidemic-induced telecommuting. Although epidemic-induced telecommuting has drastically altered how work is conducted, scant attention is being paid to this emerging work arrangement. To this end, we combine psychological reactance theory and person-environment fit theory to advance the concept of misfit between worker and environment as a core determinant of employees’ work experience in the epidemic-induced telecommuting. Particularly, we distinguish between supply-value and demand-ability misfits as constraints on workers’ freedom at work. Having analyzed data collected through a survey administered on remote workers, we discovered that both misfits positively influenced workers’ perceived psychological reactance, which led to work exhaustion and counter-productive behaviors. We also found that the utilization of collaborative technologies moderated the effects of misfit on workers’ psychological reactance.

Keywords: Epidemic-induced telecommuting; Psychological reactance; Person-environment misfit; Collaborative technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:154:y:2023:i:c:s0148296322007950

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113330

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