Employee Job Satisfaction and Attitudes in Virtual Workplaces

Employee Job Satisfaction and Attitudes in Virtual Workplaces by Rebecca K. Mansfield MS, Walden University, 2011 BA, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Industrial – Organizational Psychology Walden University March 2018 Abstract People who telecommute or work in virtual settings report higher satisfaction from increased flexibility and autonomy. However, relationships with leaders are more difficult to build, particularly as leadership in virtual workplaces tends to be less hierarchical. It is known that leader-member communication is an important aspect of employee job satisfaction and a significant problem exists for leaders who are ill-People who telecommute or work in virtual settings report higher satisfaction from increased flexibility and autonomy. However, relationships with leaders are more difficult to build, particularly as leadership in virtual workplaces tends to be less hierarchical. It is known that leader-member communication is an important aspect of employee job satisfaction and a significant problem exists for leaders who are illprepared to function in the leadership role required by a virtual workplace. The purpose of the quantitative study was to examine if employee job satisfaction predicts attitude toward virtual workplace setting and if this relationship is moderated by leader-member communication and leadership style. The theoretical frameworks that guided the study were the job demands-resources model and media richness theory. Relationships between variables were explored using correlation and multiple regression, while controlling for moderating variables. 145 of the 295 telecommuters fit the parameters. The findings revealed a significant relationship between attitude toward telecommuting and job satisfaction. The leader-member exchange and transformational leadership styles significantly and positively affected the relationship between attitude and job satisfaction, while passive avoidant leadership style significantly and negatively affected the relationship between attitude and job satisfaction. These findings can help leaders as they aim to improve communication for the growing number of employees who telecommute. Employee Job Satisfaction and Attitudes in Virtual Workplaces by Rebecca K. Mansfield MS, Walden University, 2011 BA, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Industrial – Organizational Psychology Walden University March 2018 Dedication This is dedicated to my beloved son Maddox. Follow your dreams and anything is possible. This is also dedicated to my amazing older brother Toby, who went too soon and loved living fast; also, my sister Ding, who taught us that life is too short and to love every moment. To the strong women who influenced and helped me be the woman I am today: Betty Sleczkowski, MaryLou Hartmann, Katherine Sleczkowski, Diana Jardine, and Virginia Mansfield. Finally, to the remarkable men who taught us to never give up: Antonio Russo, Charles Mansfield, Alfred Sleczkowski, and Robert Sleczkowski—you all live on in all of us.