Telework and the job satisfaction gender divide: a comparative approach

• In Event: Gender and Public Sector Organizations

Abstract

Public organizations are experiencing new workplace arrangements. In light of the recent changes in the US context, there is a need for a better and comparative understanding of how telework affects employee attitudes, such as job satisfaction, especially if these new dynamics have altered work-life balance assessments. Moreover, research examining job satisfaction in the workplace has shown that women tend to express higher satisfaction levels than their male counterparts. One probable reason for this difference is that women show a stronger preference for work-life balance arrangements.

In this scenario, it is crucial to study the gender differences in the new work arrangements that emerged from a post-pandemic context, where telework practices have changed workplace dynamics and made the discussion on work-life balance practices more explicit. These organizational traits may also vary between contexts, so a comparative approach is beneficial. Consequently, from a comparative perspective, the study's primary goal is to empirically examine how gender differences in telework practices affect job satisfaction, mediated by work-life balance assessments. Specifically, it addresses the question: to what degree are there country-specific gender differences in telework assessments on employees’ job satisfaction?

From a comparative perspective, the empirical approach will examine the 2023 Employee Viewpoint Survey from three countries: Canada, Colombia, and the United States. These surveys measure public employees’ job satisfaction and work-life balance, among other aspects. The comparative perspective offers a unique lens on workplace dynamics and could clarify women's coping mechanisms in these regions. Moreover, understanding these differences is essential as it facilitates a deeper comprehension of adverse organizational outcomes that affect the workforce’s well-being in various contexts. The findings from this study will enhance the understanding of public organizations in new environments and provide practical recommendations for public managers in human resource management.

Authors

• Mauricio Astudillo Rodas, Florida State University
  Presenting Author

• Pablo Sanabria
  Non-Presenting Co-Author