Should I Stay or Should I Go (to the Office)?—Effects of Working from Home, Autonomy, and Core Self–Evaluations on Leader Health and Work–Life Balance

Abstract

Leaders represent a high-demand group in organizations. The effects of leaders’ personal and workplace resources on their health and work–life balance have often slipped under the radar, as most studies are directed outwardly and focus on follower outcomes. With this study, we closed a gap in the research and investigated the positive effects of remote work, autonomy, and leaders’ core-self evaluations (CSE) on two important leader outcomes: health and work–life balance. We hypothesized that the relationship between remote work and the outcomes would be moderated by leaders’ CSE and their autonomy—in such a way that leaders with lower resources benefit more from remote work and achieve better health and work–life balance the more days they spend working from home. A sample of 367 leaders reported their frequency of working from home, their autonomy, and CSE. Their health and work–life balance were assessed five months later. Results showed a moderating effect of CSE on both outcomes, indicating that leaders with low CSE benefit more in terms of health and work–life balance. There was no moderating effect of autonomy. Leaders with high resources (autonomy and CSE) had overall higher levels of health and work–life balance regardless of work location. Practitioners in organizations should consider working from home as a resource for leaders, particularly if personal resources are lower.

How's the boss? Integration of the health-oriented leadership concept into the job demands-resources theory

“…The results suggest that SelfCare acts as a mediator between job resources and work engagement, and between job demands and emotional exhaustion. These findings are consistent with Krick et al ’s (2022) cross-sectional study findings on the relationship between job demands, resources and SelfCare, and Neidlinger et al ’s (2022) longitudinal study on the relationship between leader autonomy and leader health. Job resources predict StaffCare, with work engagement mediating this relationship, supporting previous studies by Krick et al .…”

Work–Life Balance and Mental and Physical Health among Warsaw Specialists, Managers and Entrepreneurs

“…Fulfilling the occupational and family roles in this situation leads to negative psychological consequences such as emotional difficulties connected with over-loading, loss of agency and lack of verified ways of action. However, other studies [110] indicate positive effects of remote work for health. Furthermore, some studies on the Protestant Work Ethic or generational renewal suggest that trends observed in the study will continue [111,112].…”

A Lifestyle App and Multiple Health Behavior Change in Users: Effects of App Use and Interrelations of Behaviors

“…Also other authors have identified health literacy as a crucial dimension, and making digital media interventions more sensitive to health literacy needs [55] can be done like in this study outlining and evaluating the app. Apps can not only help patients: The harbor the potential to help also practitioners to work from home in helping their patients to manage adherence [56]. This should be also taken into account with future policy building and refinements: Allowing healthcare providers to prescribe such interventions, supporting patients in a dynamic, adapting manner, and appreciating the behavioral effects might high importance.…”