Employee Well-Being and Digital Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The digitalisation of work is resulting in a transformation in the relationship between employees and employers as well as the perception of quality of life. Under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals whose work could be done with digital tools were directed to work remotely. Performing work duties at a distance from the workplace, colleagues, and supervisors affects the workplace resources available to employees and can have an impact on employee well-being. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between remote working and employee well-being. The research hypothesis was that there is a relationship between employee well-being and the level of digitisation of work performed, as measured by the frequency of remote working. This article presents the results of empirical research conducted in January 2021, using the CAWI method, on a representative sample of Polish workers (n = 1000). An exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression were carried out. The results point to the three-dimensional nature of employee well-being, which includes workplace relationships, health, and work–life balance. Based on the results, working exclusively remotely was shown to negatively affect well-being in terms of workplace relationships and work–life balance. There was no statistically significant association between remote working and subjective health assessment. The results have important implications for the management of employee well-being in remote working settings. Originality/value lies in the fact that the article provides practical guidance in planning hybrid work arrangements.

Modelling the COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Employees’ Health and Performance: A PLS-SEM Mediation Approach

“…Therefore, contrary to the results of the present study, according to which the COVID-19 pandemic effects felt by employees did not affect their physical and mental well-being, the literature largely demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the well-being of employees in terms of workplace relationships and work-life balance [78]. At the same time, the literature demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic has alarming implications for collective health and emotional functioning of the individual [52].…”

The Responsiveness of Teacher Education Managers at an ODeL College to Resilience and the Well-Being of Staff Working from Home During COVID-19

“…Failure in this regard would ultimately lead to high levels of anxiety and stress (Nielsen et al, 2017). In support of this view, Juchnowicz and Kinowska (2021) reported that the well-being of staff is of critical importance if TEMs want to see their staff performing their daily tasks properly. However, working remotely could have a negative impact on staff morale and well-being since it requires balancing personal and professional duties (Bergefurt et al, 2021).…”

“…In addition, Newman and Ford (2021) argued that working remotely could result in employees losing trust in and support from their managers and organisations. A lack of personal contact between managers and staff could also affect trust in co-workers and the building of a friendly atmosphere in the workplace negatively (Juchnowicz & Kinowska, 2021). Ahmed et al (2019) suggested that there should be constant communication between the employer and the employee about any changes during the day that affect the employee and that staff should work according to a schedule that works for both parties to create trust.…”

“…The suggested strategies could also assist in promoting socialisation and relationship building among individuals in virtual situations and could, as such, be used to prevent feelings of isolation. Juchnowicz and Kinowska (2021) posited that employers aiming to support remote work should opt for a hybrid system that combines working from a distance and being in the physical workplace. Line managers could offer online seminars and workshop training that would help employees to empower themselves.…”

Professional self-realization of disabled persons in an urban environment

“…Of the most pressing problems related to the one considered in this article, it is necessary to highlight: the impact of urban transformations on the well-being of citizens [8]; the relationship between income and subjective well-being [9]; the relationship between the quality of life and life crises [10]; social support and well-being in the student environment [11]; the impact of work on life satisfaction [12]; various aspects of well-being in the era of a pandemic [13][14][15]. It should be noted separately that we deliberately avoided studying the problem of the pandemic due to the fact that the data collection was carried out before the Covid-19 pandemic became a global phenomenon.…”