A diary study on location autonomy and employee mental distress: the mediating role of task-environment fit

Wu, C.-H., Davis, M., Collis, H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7654-5643, Hughes, H. and Fang, L. (2023) A diary study on location autonomy and employee mental distress: the mediating role of task-environment fit. Personnel Review, 53 (5). pp. 1208-1223. ISSN 1758-6933 doi: 10.1108/PR-01-2023-0011

Abstract/Summary

Purpose: This study examines the role of location autonomy (i.e., autonomy over where to work) in shaping employee mental distress during their working days. Design/methodology/approach: 316 employees from six organizations in the UK provided data for 4082 half-day sessions, over ten working days. Random intercept modelling is used to analyze half-day data nested within individuals. Findings: Results show that location autonomy, beyond decision-making autonomy and work-method autonomy, is positively associated with the perception of task-environment fit, which in turn, contributes to lower mental distress during each half-day session. Results of supplementary analysis also show that location autonomy can contribute to higher absorption, task proficiency, and job satisfaction via task-environment fit during each half-day session. Originality: This study reveals the importance and uniqueness of location autonomy in shaping employees’ outcomes, offering implications for how organizations can use it in their work-life flexibility policies to support employee mental health.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/129772
Identification Number/DOI	10.1108/PR-01-2023-0011
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Henley Business School > Leadership, Organisations, Behaviour and Reputation
Publisher	Emerald Publishing Limited
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