The effect of telework on employee job satisfaction with the role of mediators of job independence and work-family conflict

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of telework (TW) on job satisfaction (JS) with the mediating role of perceived independence and conflict between work and family. The statistical population of this study was 2280 people from the staff of government offices in Quds city. Cochran sampling formula showed that 328 people were identified as sufficient for sampling. However, researchers considered 501 participants to reduce sampling error. The sampling method was simple random sampling. In order to measure TW, JS, Work-Family Conflict (WFC) and in order to Measure job independence (JI), standard questionnaires were used. Hypotheses were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations using SPSS and SMARTPLS software. Findings showed that teleworking has a significant effect on job satisfaction, perceived independence and the conflict between work and family. In addition, the findings showed that work-family conflict between telecommuting and job satisfaction has a mediating and significant role. Perceived job independence also plays a mediating role between telecommuting and job satisfaction. Based on findings, the mediating roles of work-family conflict and perceived independence were confirmed.IntroductionDue to the Covid-19 pandemic, many researchers are looking for ways to conceptualize jobs and to help introduce initiatives for the benefits of work-life balance and employees’ well-being (Ghislieri et al, 2021). Due to the pandemic, many workers and employers had to divert to working from home. Before the pandemic, the existing knowledge about telework (TW) was mainly developed in an atmosphere that TW was rarely used as a working method by a number of employees of an organization. When teleworking is no longer an arbitrary option, but a mandatory requirement, it is necessary to change the focus of research to teleworking.Job satisfaction (JS) is a pleasant or positive emotional state that results from a person's evaluation of her\his work or experience (Baluyos et al., 2019).JS is often examined in the context of the results of WFC.Workers with higher JS are less involved in family conflicts.In particular, JI and WFC have been used as job variables and job demand, and their direct or indirect effect on JS has been proven (Wu & Zhou, 2020).In addition, most studies show that telecommuting has a positive relationship with JS (Petcu et al., 2021).Job satisfactionshows the degree of freedom, autonomy and authority to schedule work, decision making and method selection used to perform tasks.It shows a form of control over the job, which is the degree of discretion of the employee in decision-making and one of the main dimensions of job demand control theory (Karasek, 1976).Therefore, in this research, JI is a key variable in the field of remote work due to quarantine of employees.Work-Family Conflict occurs as a set of pressures when it is difficult to reconcile work and personal roles.The main sources of WFC are: time, pressure and behavior.The loss of boundaries between work and family spheres and the increase of personal family responsibilities are aspects that have reached their peak during quarantine, intensifying the conflict between roles.It seems that WFC, which has led to an increase in the interference of work and family roles, has been largely affected by telecommuting, and has led to a decrease in JS.Currently, most of the empirical evidence on work-family relationships is found in Western countries, which share key features of cultural individualism rather than collectivism.Iran can be considered a family-oriented country.The findings of individualistic societies may not apply to family-oriented societies, which could be a proof of the necessity of the present research.Few researchers have investigated the potential mediators of TW. Therefore, the quarantine situation during the pandemic is the best opportunity to expand knowledge on this matter.In this research, the relationship between TW and JS is investigated, considering the mediating role of WFC and JI. Research methodThis research, in terms of research strategy, is applied research and in terms of purpose, is descriptive. Also, in terms of the method of data collection, it is of survey type. The statistical population includes all the employees of the government offices of Quds town, which consist of 2280 employees. The questionnaire was completed electronically. In the present study, random sampling was employed and Cochran's formula was used for the sample size. The validity and reliability of the research have been verified using the confirmatory factor analysis test and structural equations and analysis by SPSS and SMART-PLS softwares.The research questionnaire consists of two parts: the first part includes demographic questions (gender, age, education and work experience, etc.). The second part of the questionnaire includes questions related to research variables. The validity and reliability of the variables can be seen in Table 1. Table 1.Validity and Reliability of VariablesVariableCronbach’s AlphaComposite ReliabilityAVETW0.90.870.59JS0.750.740.62WFC0.920.890.60JI0.940.920.62 Research findingsThe findings of the first hypothesis of the research show that the coefficient of TW path on JS is 0.29 and the t value is 3.02, which is higher than the critical value of 2.58. Therefore, it can be said that the effect of TW on JS is significant (p< 0.01). Therefore, the first hypothesis of the research is confirmed.The findings of the second hypothesis of the research show that the coefficient of TW path on JI is 0.50 and the t-value is 6.54, which is higher than the critical value of 2.58, therefore it can be said that the effect of TW on JI is significant (p< 0.01) and the second research hypothesis is confirmed.The findings of the third hypothesis of the research show that the coefficient of TW path on WFC is 0.35 and the t-value is also 3.54, which is higher than the critical value of 2.58, it can be said that the effect of TW on WFC is significant (p< 0.01) and the third research hypothesis is confirmed.The findings of the fourth hypothesis of the research show that the path coefficient of JI on JS is 0.38 and the t-value is also 3.81, which is higher than the critical value of 2.58, we can say that the effect of JI on JS is significant (p< 0.01) and the fourth sub-hypothesis of the research is confirmed.The findings of the fifth research hypothesis show that the path coefficient of WFC on JS is 0.27 and the t-value is 2.85, which is higher than the critical value of 2.58, so it can be said that the effect WFC has a negative and significant impact on JS (p< 0.01), therefore the fifth research hypothesis is confirmed.The findings of the sixth hypothesis of the research show that the coefficient of TW path on JS with the mediating role of JI has been obtained as -0.20. The t value has been obtained as 4.31, which is higher than the critical value of 2.58, it can be said that the effect of TW on JS is confirmed by the mediating role of JI (p< 0.01). According to table 2, based on the mediation of JI between TW and JS, The VAF is equal to 0.40, which shows that the total effect of TW on JS is indirectly explained by the mediating variable of JI and because this value is between 0.20 and 0.80 Mediation is partial.The findings of the seventh hypothesis of the research show that the coefficient of TW path on JS with the mediating role of WFC is 0.10. It can be said that the role of TW on the JS is confirmed with the mediating role of WFC (t = 2.21, p< 0.05). According to Table 2, the value of VAF statistic based on the mediation of WFC between TW and JS is equal to 0.52 which shows that the total effect of TW on JS is indirectly explained by the mediating variable of WFC. Table 2. The Results of Research HypothesesHypothesisRelationshipType of effectPath coefficientt statisticP-ValuesH1TWà JSDirect0.293.020.000H2TW à JIDirect0.5086.540.000H3TW à WFCDirect0.3563.540.000H4JIà JSDirect0.3893.810.000H5WFCà JSDirect0.2772.850.000H6TWàJIàJSindirect0.24.310.000Total0.497.330.000VAF0.4H7TWà WFCà JSindirect0.12.210.021Total0.195.220.000VAF0.52 Conclusion and suggestionThe findings of this study showed that the effect of TW on JS was significant, which is consistent with the findings of Karácsony (2021), Brunelli and Fortin (2021), Cernas-Ortiz and Wai-Kwan (2021), which are done in Slovakia, Canada and Mexico respectively.The findings showed that the path coefficient of JI on JS is 0.38 which indicates that JI has a positive and significant effect on JS. The results of the studies of Petcu et al. (2021) and Wu and Zhou (2020) confirmed the finding.The path coefficient of WFC on JS is -0.27. Therefore, WFC has had a negative and significant effect on JS. This finding is in line with the findings of Purwanto et al. (2021).The research study also shows that the coefficient of TW path on JS with the mediating role of JI is estimated as -0.20. This finding is consistent with the findings of Wu and Zhou (2021) and Purwanto et al. (2021). The following points are suggested to managers of the government offices of Quds town:- When necessary, reduce the work pressures on employees by supporting, empowering them and by reducing the conflict between work and family among employees.- In remote working conditions, the time and quantity of work activities should not increase otherwise, job dissatisfaction and family problems will grow. *Corresponding author

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