The role of psychosocial safety climate on flexible work from home digital job demands and work-life conflict

Amy K. Parkin, Amy J. Zadow, Rachael E. Potter, Ali Afsharian, Maureen F. Dollard, Silvia Pignata, Arnold B. Bakker, Kurt Lushington

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

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 2,177 employees from 37 Australian universities. Multilevel model-ling 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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)307-319
Number of pages13
JournalIndustrial Health
Volume61
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

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

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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