Social support in the workplace between teleworkers, office-based colleagues, and supervisors

Collins, Alison Mary and Hislop, Donald and Cartwright, Susan (2016) Social support in the workplace between teleworkers, office-based colleagues, and supervisors. New Technology, Work and Employment, 31 (2). pp. 161-175. ISSN 0268-1072

[thumbnail of Social-support-in-the-workplace-final-submitted version-header included-29Jun16]
PDF (Social-support-in-the-workplace-final-submitted version-header included-29Jun16)
Social_support_in_the_workplace_final_submitted_version_header_included_29Jun16.pdf - Accepted Version
Restricted to Repository staff only until 1 January 2050.
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial.

Download (176kB)

Abstract

This paper draws upon the findings of qualitative interviews carried out with teleworkers, their office-based colleagues and supervisory staff of a teleworking initiative introduced by a UK public sector local authority to explore workplace social support relationships. Our study found differences between office-based and permanent teleworking staff in terms of social support. For teleworkers relationships at work are complex, with social support networks being established prior to working at home. By working from home, teleworkers were able to develop greater social support relationships with some colleagues, predominantly other teleworkers, whilst at the same time allowing them to distance themselves from negative work relationships. Overall, a social disconnection developed between teleworkers and office based staff. In contrast social support was more important for office-based workers, who valued co-worker relationships with other office-based staff.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
New Technology, Work and Employment
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3307
Subjects:
?? teleworksocial support relationshipsflexible workingpeer supporthomeworkingsupervisorsmanagersteam leadersoffice workerswhite-collar workhuman factors and ergonomicsstrategy and managementmanagement of technology and innovation ??
ID Code:
79730
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
24 May 2016 12:52
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Nov 2023 11:23