Assessing the Impact of Remote and Hybrid Work Models on Work-Life Balance among Malaysian Employees

Khuaw, Sharon Row Ern (2024) Assessing the Impact of Remote and Hybrid Work Models on Work-Life Balance among Malaysian Employees. Masters thesis, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

Text 12. Sharon Khuaw Row Ern (MBA).pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (7MB)

Abstract

This study aims to thoroughly examine the impact of remote and hybrid work models on work-life balance among employees in Malaysia. As more organisations increasingly adopt flexible work arrangements, it has become crucial to understand how these models affect the well-being and overall job satisfaction of their employees. By drawing on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and the Person-Environment (P-E) Fit theory, this research seeks to explore the complex relationships between hybrid work, work engagement, social support, workload, job stress, and work-family conflict. Specifically, the study delves into how hybrid work models influence work-life balance and employee engagement while taking into account the important roles of social support and job stress. A quantitative research approach was employed, using a structured questionnaire that was distributed to a diverse range of Malaysian employees across multiple industries. The data collected were meticulously analysed through the SPSS software to test the hypotheses. The key findings of this study reveal that hybrid work has a positive influence on work engagement, yet presents significant challenges to maintaining work-life balance, largely due to the pressures of workload and the occurrence of work-family conflict. Additionally, the results indicate that, while social support plays an important role in reducing job stress, heavy workloads tend to deplete employee resources, thereby having a negative impact on work-life balance. These findings make a valuable contribution to the theoretical understanding of the COR and P-E Fit theories, specifically within the context of hybrid work models. They also provide practical insights for organisations seeking to improve employee well-being in environments that embrace flexible work arrangements. The study offers recommendations for potential policy adjustments and outlines directions for future research to build upon these findings.