Enhancing Productivity at Home: The Role of Smart Work and Organizational Support in the Public Sector

Barbara Barbieri, Marina Mondo (), Silvia De Simone, Roberta Pinna, Maura Galletta, Jessica Pileri and Diego Bellini
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Barbara Barbieri: Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Marina Mondo: Department of Pedagogy Psychology and Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Silvia De Simone: Department of Pedagogy Psychology and Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Roberta Pinna: Department of Economics and Business, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Maura Galletta: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Jessica Pileri: Department of Dynamic Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
Diego Bellini: Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy

Societies, 2024, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: In recent years, Italian Public Administrations (PAs) have swiftly adapted to flexible work arrangements due to the impact of COVID-19. The flexible work has led to addressing new challenges including the need to balance work demands with family commitments, a lack of social support, struggles with inadequate technology, and managing home interruptions that negatively affect home performance. Based on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the present study aims at examining the negative impact of home interruptions on smart working performance and the moderating role of two potential job resources: organizational support and perceived quality of the smart working. A convenience sample of 301 Italian public employees engaged in smart working completed an online questionnaire. Multivariate regression analysis results showed that organizational support plays a moderating role in reducing the negative effect of interruptions on home performance. However, the findings did not support a moderating role for the perceived quality of smart working. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of social factors in buffering the negative effects of smart working, as compared to the quality of the technological arrangements. This information could be valuable for organizations looking to enhance the effectiveness of smart working by focusing on organizational support.

Keywords: home performance; interruptions; organizational support; perceived quality of smart working; public administration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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