Factors Affecting Employees' Preferences for the Hybrid Work Model

Chin, Wei Yan (2025) Factors Affecting Employees' Preferences for the Hybrid Work Model. Masters thesis, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Technology and Management.

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Abstract

The hybrid work model, which combines remote and on-site working arrangements, has emerged as a dominant trend in the post-pandemic workplace. While offering flexibility and efficiency, its success largely depends on employees’ acceptance and preference for such arrangements. This study investigates the factors influencing employees’ preferences for the hybrid work model, with a focus on organisational support, job autonomy, and work–life balance, while examining job satisfaction as a mediating variable and organisation culture as a moderating factor. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from 386 Malaysian employees engaged in hybrid work arrangements using a structured online questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS, applying descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that organisational support and work–life balance are significant predictors of job satisfaction, while job autonomy does not. Job satisfaction, in turn, was found to have a strong positive influence on employees’ preference for the hybrid work model. Mediation analysis further confirmed that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between the independent variables and hybrid work preference. However, the moderating effect of organisation culture was statistically significant but relatively weak. This study contributes to the literature by integrating the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model with the PERMA well-being framework, offering a multidimensional perspective on hybrid work preferences. Practically, the findings provide organisations with insights into designing hybrid policies that prioritise employee well-being and satisfaction while aligning with organisation culture. Recommendations are offered for management practices and future research directions to further enhance the effectiveness of hybrid work arrangements.