Does working at third places work? Multi-locational work for engagement, creativity, and well-being

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift in work locations, necessitating consideration of factors such as the office, home, and "third place" environments. However, there is a lack of understanding about how muli-locational work (MLW) affects worker outcomes and through which mechanisms, considering each location's features. To address this gap, this study examined the relationship between MLW, location features, and worker outcomes, such as engagement, creativity, and well-being, by analyzing 2,603 survey responses from the Tokyo metropolitan area. The results showed a positive association between MLW and all three outcomes, with the strongest relationship being observed for creativity. Additionally, locational feature diversity from the view of work/non-work activities amplified the positive association between MLW and creativity. Non-work flexibility partially mediated the relationship between MLW and creativity and well-being. This study offers valuable insights into the boundary condition and pathway linking MLW with worker outcomes that are crucial for sustainable prosperity.