Beyond Work: The Role of "Family-Friendly" Practices in the Subjective Well-Being of Teleworkers and On-Site Workers in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Apr 5;21(4):447. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21040447.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telework emerged as a pivotal strategy to mitigate the spread of the virus. However, telework's feasibility was contingent on job roles. This gave rise to two distinct groups: teleworkers and on-site workers. However, the impacts of social support and well-being extended to both groups. This study investigated the link between organisational and supervisory family support and subjective well-being, examining work engagement as a mediator. Conducted in Portugal, this cross-sectional study surveyed 515 individuals via web-based questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multiple-group analysis. The findings revealed a positive correlation between perceived organisational family support (POFS) and work engagement for both groups. Additionally, perceived supervisory family support (PSFS) positively correlated with work engagement for telecommuters but not on-site workers. Furthermore, work engagement was positively associated with subjective well-being for both groups. Moreover, work engagement mediated the relationship between POFS and subjective well-being. This study enriches the literature by analysing POFS, PSFS, work engagement, and subjective well-being dynamics among teleworkers and on-site employees.

Keywords: COVID-19; organisational support; subjective well-being; supervisor support; teleworkers; work engagement; “family-friendly” practices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / psychology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Family* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Portugal
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Social Support*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Teleworking*
  • Work Engagement
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study received funding from the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (Switzerland): vouchers.