Situational Strength as a Lens to Understand the Strain Implications of Extra-Normative Work

Abstract

Employees must often perform work outside of the time and/or space requirements that typically define their job role (e.g., working after-hours, teleworking), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We introduce the concept of extra-normative work to capture this idea and draw on situational strength theory to test the seemingly paradoxical hypotheses that (1) the effects of extra-normative work are more harmful to employee strain when this work represents a stronger situation (i.e., one that unambiguously prescribes expected behavior), relative to when this work represents a weaker situation (i.e., one that allows for greater personal choice and behavioral latitude), but that (2) this strain is diminished when situational strength is achieved by maximizing the clarity and consistency of extra-normative work, while this strain is enhanced when situational strength is achieved by imposing greater constraints and consequences surrounding extra-normative work. These predictions were supported in an experimental vignette study, a survey focused on after-hours work experiences, and an investigation of telework in response to COVID-19. We discuss the theoretical implications of viewing extra-normative work through the lens of situational strength, while also outlining how our findings inform best practices surrounding how to communicate about and frame extra-normative work to employees.

Pandemic-Induced Telework Challenges and Strategies

“…Our results are consistent with construing pandemic-induced telework as extra-normative work (Calderwood et al, 2023 ) and situational strength theory (Mischel, 1977 ), which identifies situations with more constraints and consequences and less clarity and consistency as more ambiguous and stressful (Meyer et al, 2010 ). We found evidence that pandemic-induced telework challenges were significantly less pronounced among workers who had pre-pandemic telework experience and presumably more clarity on how to telework.…”

“…Theoretically, some workers were likely to find this transition and new work arrangement more challenging than others. Calderwood et al ( 2023 ) offered that employees who were not previously expected to telework may perceive pandemic-induced telework as extra-normative work, a term “which reflects work arrangements wherein effort is required in ways, at times, and/or from locations that differ substantially from employees’ typical expectations” (Calderwood et al, 2023 , p. 1). According to situational strength theory, strong situations provide more information about expected behaviors (Mischel, 1977 ; Meyer et al, 2010 ) defined situational strength as a multifaceted construct that consists of four facets: clarity , constraints , consistency , and consequences .…”