IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2022i1p691-d1020477.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Work Time Control Tradeoff in Flexible Work: Competitive Pathways to Need for Recovery

Author

Listed:
  • Johanna Edvinsson

    (Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, University of Gävle, 80176 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Svend Erik Mathiassen

    (Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, University of Gävle, 80176 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Sofie Bjärntoft

    (Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, University of Gävle, 80176 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Helena Jahncke

    (Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, University of Gävle, 80176 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Terry Hartig

    (Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, 75105 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • David M. Hallman

    (Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, University of Gävle, 80176 Gävle, Sweden)

Abstract

Work time control may offer opportunities, but also implies risks for employee recovery, influenced by increased work-related ICT use and overtime work. However, this risk–opportunity tradeoff remains understudied. This study aimed to test two different models of associations between work time control, work-related ICT use, overtime work, and the need for recovery. These models were constructed based on data on office workers with flexible work arrangements. Cross-sectional data were obtained with questionnaires ( n = 2582) from employees in a Swedish multi-site organization. Regression models treated the three determinants of the need for recovery either as independent, or as linked in a causal sequence. The test of independent determinants confirmed that more work time control was associated with less need for recovery, whereas more ICT use and overtime work were associated with a higher need for recovery. In a test of serial mediation, more work time control contributed to a greater need for recovery through more ICT use and then more overtime work. Work time control also had a competitive, indirect effect through a negative association with overtime work. Our results suggest that work time control is beneficial for employee recovery, but may for some be associated with more work-related ICT use after regular working hours, thus increasing recovery needs. Policies that support work time control can promote recovery, but employers must attend to the risk of excessive use of ICT outside of regular working hours.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Edvinsson & Svend Erik Mathiassen & Sofie Bjärntoft & Helena Jahncke & Terry Hartig & David M. Hallman, 2022. "A Work Time Control Tradeoff in Flexible Work: Competitive Pathways to Need for Recovery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:691-:d:1020477
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/691/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/691/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sofie Bjärntoft & David M. Hallman & Svend Erik Mathiassen & Johan Larsson & Helena Jahncke, 2020. "Occupational and Individual Determinants of Work-life Balance among Office Workers with Flexible Work Arrangements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Sofie Bjärntoft & David M. Hallman & Camilla Zetterberg & Johan Larsson & Johanna Edvinsson & Helena Jahncke, 2021. "A Participatory Approach to Identify Key Areas for Sustainable Work Environment and Health in Employees with Flexible Work Arrangements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Eva Thulin & Bertil Vilhelmson & Martina Johansson, 2019. "New Telework, Time Pressure, and Time Use Control in Everyday Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Lanaj, Klodiana & Johnson, Russell E. & Barnes, Christopher M., 2014. "Beginning the workday yet already depleted? Consequences of late-night smartphone use and sleep," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 124(1), pages 11-23.
    5. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    6. Melissa Mazmanian & Wanda J. Orlikowski & JoAnne Yates, 2013. "The Autonomy Paradox: The Implications of Mobile Email Devices for Knowledge Professionals," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(5), pages 1337-1357, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Juan Sandoval-Reyes & Sandra Idrovo-Carlier & Edison Jair Duque-Oliva, 2021. "Remote Work, Work Stress, and Work–Life during Pandemic Times: A Latin America Situation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Diller, Heike, 2016. "Life is tough so you gotta be rough: How resilience impacts employees' attitude towards ICT use," Passauer Diskussionspapiere, Betriebswirtschaftliche Reihe B-24-16, University of Passau, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    3. Gajendran, Ravi S. & Loewenstein, Jeffrey & Choi, Hyeran & Ozgen, Sibel, 2022. "Hidden costs of text-based electronic communication on complex reasoning tasks: Motivation maintenance and impaired downstream performance," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Haixia Wang & Pei Liu & Xiaoying Zhao & Aimei Li & Chenjie Xiao, 2022. "Work-Related Use of Information and Communication Technologies After Hours (W_ICTs) and Work-Family Conflict: A Moderated Mediation Model," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, August.
    5. Xia Jiang & Jing Du & Tianfei Yang & Jinfan Zhou, 2021. "Sustainable Interpersonal Interaction: Research on Instant Message and Helping from the Perspective of Sender," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Zhang, Linlin & Tekleab, Amanuel G. & Piszczek, Matthew & Qiu, Yang, 2023. "Does after-hours work-related information and communication technology use promote work engagement? A preliminary daily Dairy study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    7. Purificación López-Igual & Paula Rodríguez-Modroño, 2021. "Factores de desigualdad entre teletrabajadores en Europa," Revista de Economía Crítica, Asociación de Economía Crítica, vol. 31, pages 62-79.
    8. S. Arunachalam & Sridhar N. Ramaswami & Pol Herrmann & Doug Walker, 2018. "Innovation pathway to profitability: the role of entrepreneurial orientation and marketing capabilities," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 744-766, July.
    9. Bilgihan, Anil & Madanoglu, Melih & Ricci, Peter, 2016. "Service attributes as drivers of behavioral loyalty in casinos: The mediating effect of attitudinal loyalty," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 14-21.
    10. Kareklas, Ioannis & Muehling, Darrel D. & King, Skyler, 2019. "The effect of color and self-view priming in persuasive communications," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 33-49.
    11. Ashish Arora & Michelle Gittelman & Sarah Kaplan & John Lynch & Will Mitchell & Nicolaj Siggelkow & Aaron K. Chatterji & Michael Findley & Nathan M. Jensen & Stephan Meier & Daniel Nielson, 2016. "Field experiments in strategy research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 116-132, January.
    12. Yi Yong Lee & Chin Lay Gan & Tze Wei Liew, 2023. "Thwarting Instant Messaging Phishing Attacks: The Role of Self-Efficacy and the Mediating Effect of Attitude towards Online Sharing of Personal Information," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-23, February.
    13. FeCheng Ma & Farhan Khan & Kashif Ullah Khan & Si XiangYun, 2021. "Investigating the Impact of Information Technology, Absorptive Capacity, and Dynamic Capabilities on Firm Performance: An Empirical Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, November.
    14. Mbassi, Christophe Martial & Messono, Omang Ombolo, 2023. "Historical technology and current economic development: Reassessing the nature of the relationship," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    15. Nosheena Yasir & Nasir Mahmood & Hafiz Shakir Mehmood & Osama Rashid & An Liren, 2021. "The Integrated Role of Personal Values and Theory of Planned Behavior to Form a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    16. Jianzhuang Zheng & Muhammad Usman Khurram & Lifeng Chen, 2022. "Can Green Innovation Affect ESG Ratings and Financial Performance? Evidence from Chinese GEM Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-32, July.
    17. Mia M. Vainio & Daiva Daukantaitė, 2016. "Grit and Different Aspects of Well-Being: Direct and Indirect Relationships via Sense of Coherence and Authenticity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 2119-2147, October.
    18. Christian W. Scheiner & Christian V. Baccarella & John Bessant & Kai-Ingo Voigt, 2018. "Participation Motives, Moral Disengagement, And Unethical Behaviour In Idea Competitions," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(06), pages 1-24, August.
    19. Yu Ding & Wayne S. DeSarbo & Dominique M. Hanssens & Kamel Jedidi & John G. Lynch & Donald R. Lehmann, 2020. "The past, present, and future of measurement and methods in marketing analysis," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 175-186, September.
    20. G. Rejikumar & Aswathy Asokan-Ajitha & Sofi Dinesh & Ajay Jose, 2022. "The role of cognitive complexity and risk aversion in online herd behavior," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 585-621, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:691-:d:1020477. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.