Out of Sight, Out of Mind? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working and Burnout in the Context of the Job Demands–Resources Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The academic interest in smart working, a form of flexible work characterized by the use of technology to conduct one’s work, has dramatically increased over recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, in this study we investigate whether smart working affects the longitudinal association between perceived work characteristics, such as workload and social support (SS), and workers’ health and well-being, in terms of exhaustion. Overall, 185 workers completed a self-report questionnaire at two time points (four-month time-lag) during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results from moderated multiple regression analysis partially support our predictions. The longitudinal association between workload and exhaustion was positive—although marginally significant—for smart workers, but nonsignificant for in-person workers. Contrarily, the longitudinal association between SS and exhaustion was negative for in-person workers, but nonsignificant for smart workers. Overall, this study suggests that, to support employees’ health and productivity, work characteristics—both physical and psychosocial—should fit the new way of working as well as remote workers’ specific needs and expectations. Hence, to promote sustainable work, interventions should be aimed at helping smart workers to manage their workload effectively, as well as reducing professional and social isolation.

Workload, work–life interface, stress, job satisfaction and job performance: a job demand–resource model study during COVID-19

“…, 2004). The job demand and resource relationships with stress were also consistent with recently published work (De Carlo et al. , 2022; Sayin et al.…”

“…The pandemic context, changes in working location and the associated transitions noted above altered the work and home relationship and environment, and this has been well documented in recent studies (Abdel Hadi et al, 2021;Bilotta et al, 2021;De Carlo et al, 2022;Pulido-Martos et al, 2021). Further, the job characteristics changed for many occupations (e.g.…”

“…studies look at the impact of demands and resources on strains (Abdel Hadi et al. , 2021; De Carlo et al. , 2022), while others look at demands and resources and the impact on health outcomes, such as vigor at work (Pulido-Martos et al.…”

Relationship between mental fatigue and burnout syndrome in remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review

“…Other recent studies suggest reviewing the impact that the creation of new telecommuting jobs could have and improving the separation between work and non-work domains to mitigate the negative effects related to exhaustion, mental fatigue, and tiredness by overload. 33 Another important recommendation is to carry out future research that reviews the correlation between the number of connection hours and studies of the frequency of calls and videoconferences per working day with the mental processes that mediate these activities such as attention and concentration, and production processes through performance. 34 The foregoing will make it possible to estimate whether reducing the number of calls and/or connection time during teleworking is feasible.…”

Who said there is no place like home? Extending the link between quantitative job demands and life satisfaction: a moderated mediation model

“…From the perspective of JD-R, studies addressing the impact of COVID-19 on employees due to mandatory remote work arrangements emerge in the organizational and human resource management literature (e.g. Dolce et al, 2020;Bilotta et al, 2021;Galanti et al, 2021;Ghislieri et al, 2021;Ingusci et al, 2021;Jamal et al, 2021;Prodanova and Kocarev, 2021;Shamsi et al, 2021;De Carlo et al, 2022;Emirza, 2022).…”