The Relationship Between Workplace Flexibility and Engagement Through Helping: The Buffering Effect of Technology Use

• In Event: Communication at Work

Abstract

Due to communication technologies, many employees are offered flexibility in workplace and time. Working from different timeslots and from different locations could lead to fewer encounters between employees, negatively influencing helping behavior. However, using communication technologies for work could enhance contact between employees and increase their helping behavior. Since helping behavior is found to be beneficial for both the recipients of help and the helpers themselves, it is assumed this will eventually influence employee engagement. Using a two-wave panel study, we examined the indirect relationship between flexible work designs (FWDs) and engagement, through helping behavior. Then, we studied whether the use of communication technologies can buffer the expected negative associations between spatial and temporal flexibility and helping behavior. The results show that spatial flexibility is detrimental for helping behavior, which reduces engagement. However, this negative effect between spatial flexibility and helping behavior is buffered by the use of communication technologies.

Authors

• Claartje L. ter Hoeven, Amsterdam School of Communication Research ASCoR / U of Amsterdam

• ward van zoonen, U of Amsterdam