The Impact of COVID-19 on the Relationship between Working Conditions and Work Engagement

Abstract

This study examines the effect of working conditions changes under COVID-19 on work engagement (WE) from the view of the JD-R model using data from two waves survey. The survey was conducted with white-collar employees (sample sizes for each wave are T1 =1,497 and T2 = 1,129), and both survey data were combined and used for analysis. The results of the quantitative analysis showed four findings: First, changes in communication affect WE, and second, the application of telework contributes to the improvement of WE under the COVID-19 situation but doesn't work only introducing telework; that is, it is necessary to consider the continuity of the practice to improve the WE. Third, the effect of communication on WE by teleworkers is stronger than that of non-teleworkers. Fourth, not only each job resource affects WE, but it also has the complementing function.