Telework as a driver of employee well-being: Insights from Zain Iraq Telecom

Abstract

Background

Telework is a phenomenon that has grown to be commonplace in the telecommunications industry but has shown mixed effects on employee well-being, especially in the developing-country environment.

Objective

This paper explores how telework affects employee well-being in the Zain Iraq Telecommunications Company and whether gender and years of experience affect this association.

Methods

Descriptive-analytical design was used based on survey data of 152 employees of telework. The dimensions that were assessed to evaluate telework were very specific; they included work-life balance, flexibility, effectiveness of communication, and workload management. Psychological well-being, job satisfaction and work-related stress were used to measure employee well-being. The correlation, regression and variance analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results

The findings indicate that telework positively influences employee well-being, primarily through enhanced work-life balance and greater flexibility. No significant differences were observed across gender or years of experience, though these factors partially mediated certain dimensions of well-being.

Conclusions

The study provides empirical evidence on how telework dimensions influence in determining the well-being of employees and this presents practical implications that the organization could use to design an effective telework policy in the developing countries.