Publication Date

Spring 2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Howard Tokunaga; Megumi Hosoda; Erik Meredith

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic sent the world into lock down. Since then, organizations have been wrestling with how to navigate the many opinions, as well as research-backed advantages and disadvantages of in-office work, hybrid work, and remote work. In addition to shaking up the ways in which work is done, the pandemic shutdowns caused some to re-evaluate why they do the work they do. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between remote work and an employee’s desire for meaningful work to increase understanding of how remote work can be used as a strategic element of job design rather than a reactive response to world events. Results of the study indicate that the relationship between remote work and desire for meaning may be moderated by a variety of factors. Age was found to moderate the relationship such that younger employees experienced less desire for meaningful work the more they worked remotely, while older employees experienced increased desire. Likewise, childless employees experienced less desire for meaningful work as they worked remotely while employees who were also parents experienced an increased desire for meaning. Implications for organizations as well as ideas for future research are discussed.

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