ABSTRACT
Purpose: Based on the affective event theory and the theoretical framework of "work environment features-work events-emotional responses-work attitude", this study aims to explore how and when home-based telework negatively affects work engagement by focusing on the dual chain mediating paths of "workplace isolation-negative emotion" and "telepressure-negative emotion", and the moderating role of family-supportive leadership. Methods: A questionnaire survey was used to collect 276 self-reported responses from employees with home-based telework experience in China. Findings: (a) Home-based telework indirectly and negatively affects work engagement through the mediating chain of "workplace isolation-negative emotion"; (b) Home-based telework indirectly and negatively affects work engagement through the mediating chain of "telepressure-negative emotion"; (c) Family-supportive leadership negatively moderates the chain mediating effect of "workplace isolation-negative emotion" and "telepressure-negative emotion" between home-based telework and work engagement. In other words, the higher the level of family-supportive leadership, the weaker the negative effect of home-based telework on work engagement. Originality/Value: This study sheds additional light on the relationship between home-based telework and work engagement by constructing the influence mechanism model of home-based telework on work engagement, in which "workplace isolation-negative emotion" and "telepressure-negative emotion" act as chain mediators, and family supportive leadership as moderator. This study enriches the literature on home-based telework. Practical Implications: The findings indicates that home-based work has indirectly and negatively effects on work engagement through dual chain mediating paths of "workplace isolation-negative emotion" and "telepressure-negative emotion". However, family-supportive leadership can weaken this negative influence. Therefore, organizations need to cultivate family supportive leadership.
ABSTRACT
Adapting to the remote working environment has been one of the most visible challenges for many organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As employee creativity helps organizations' survival and resilience during times of crisis, this study aims to examine the role of leadership communication, family-supportive leadership communication in particular, in fostering creativity among work-from-home employees. The current study specifically focuses on the mediating processes in this relationship and the moderating role of employees' work-life segmentation preferences, using a survey of 449 employees who have worked from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results showed that employee-organization relationship (EOR) quality, positive affect, and work-life enrichment mediate the relationship between family-supportive leadership communication and employee creativity. The effects of family-supportive leadership communication on employees' positive affect and work-life enrichment were more prominent for those who prefer to segment their work and lives. This paper concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for leadership in organizational communication.