Perceptions of Work-Life Balance and Coworker Support Promote Teleworker Well-Being: Survey of the Swiss Public Sector During COVID-19

With the rapid increase in telecommuting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to understand whether previously identified job resources are still relevant when telecommuting is mandatory and how flexible work arrangements are related to employee well-being. This study aimed to assess the potential mediating effects of a perceived favorable work-life balance environment and coworker support between perceived new ways of working (NWW) practices (e.g., telecommuting and flexible working hours) and employee engagement/exhaustion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the job demands-resources model and the theory of perceived organizational support, we hypothesized that perceptions of flexibility would be positively related to a work environment conducive to work-life balance and that work-related resources would directly and indirectly affect employees' well-being. Data came from a survey of 1,373 employees in the Swiss public sector. The results showed that perceived schedule flexibility and the ability to communicate with coworkers and supervisors contributed to employees' well-being, and that these relationships were partially mediated by a perceived favorable work-life balance environment and support from coworkers. These findings suggest that a collaborative environment is key to the well-being of civil servants in a compulsory teleworking context. Furthermore, as this study examined employee perceptions, it suggests that HR policies may be ineffective if they are not accompanied by supportive management.