Citation

Parkin AK, Zadow AJ, Potter RE, Afsharian A, Dollard MF, Pignata S, Bakker AB, Lushington K. Ind. Health 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, National Institute of Industrial Health, Japan)

DOI

10.2486/indhealth.2022-0078

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of employees in flexible work from home has increased markedly along with a reliance on information communication technologies. This study investigated the role of an organisational factor, psychosocial safety climate (PSC; the climate for worker psychological health and safety), as an antecedent of these new kinds of demands (specifically work from home digital job demands) and their effect on work-life conflict. Data were gathered via an online survey of 2,191 employees from 37 Australian universities. Multilevel modelling showed that university level PSC to demands, y=−0.09, SE=0.03, p<0.01, and demands to work-life conflict, y=0.51, SE=0.19, p<0.05, relationships were significant. Supporting the antecedent theory, university level PSC was significantly indirectly related to work-life conflict via demands (LL −0.10 UL −0.01). Against expectations PSC did not moderate the demand to work-life conflict relationship. The results imply that targeting PSC could help prevent work from home digital job demands, and therefore, work-life conflict. Further research is needed on the role of digital job resources as flexible and hybrid work takes hold post COVID.

Language: en

Keywords

Digital job demands; Flexible work; Hybrid work; Information communication technologies; Psychosocial safety climate; Work-life conflict