The Influence of Remote Work on Personality Trait–Performance Linkages: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Study

Espen Olsen, Yusheng Fu and Maria Therese Jensen ()
Additional contact information
Espen Olsen: UiS Business School, University of Stavanger, 4021 Stavanger, Norway
Yusheng Fu: Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
Maria Therese Jensen: Norwegian Reading Centre, University of Stavanger, 4021 Stavanger, Norway

Administrative Sciences, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Few studies have investigated how remote work influences personality trait–performance linkages over time in heterogeneous work populations. Hence, the aim of this study was twofold: (1) to explore the predictive validity personality traits have on work behaviour (work engagement and innovative work behaviour) and occupational health outcomes (general health and sick leave); (2) to explore how remote work potentially moderates the trait–performance linkage. Panel survey data from a Norwegian work–life barometer panel research project was employed, and the time lag was one year. The results indicated that the Big Five was consistently related to work behaviour and occupational health outcomes. Extraversion had the strongest positive association with work engagement (0.25), innovative work behaviour (0.26) and general health (0.17), while neuroticism had strongest associations with work engagement (−0.16), general health (−0.21), and sick leave (0.23). Agreeableness increases the risk of sick leave (0.11), while intellect/imagination increases innovative work behaviour (0.13). Remote work reduces the influence extraversion has on work engagement, while remote work five days a week also reduces the effect conscientiousness has on general health. Remote work did not moderate trait–performance linkages associated with intellect/imagination, agreeableness or neuroticism. This study provides updated knowledge on trait–performance linkages post-COVID-19 and demonstrates that remote work can reduce the positive influence of extraversion and conscientiousness.

Keywords: remote work; big five; personality traits; performance; work behaviour; occupational health outcomes; work engagement; innovative work behaviour; general health; sick leave (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/14/7/144/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/14/7/144/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:14:y:2024:i:7:p:144-:d:1429571

Access Statistics for this article

Administrative Sciences is currently edited by Ms. Nancy Ma

More articles in Administrative Sciences from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().