Out of office: A diary study on remote work's impact on well-being through psychological basic needs

Abstract

This study explored the impact of remote work on well-being through self-determination theory, which highlights the importance of fulfilling psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Data were gathered from 85 employees in city administration through 605 daily assessments over a two-week period. The results indicated that remote work positively affected well-being by fulfilling employees' needs for autonomy and competence. While it led to a decrease in feelings of relatedness, this decline did not negatively influence overall well-being. Furthermore, the increase in well-being driven by greater autonomy and competence was associated with enhanced helping behavior toward colleagues. Given that these results were significant at the within- (but not between-) person level, the findings suggest that a hybrid model combining remote and office work may be the most effective strategy for enhancing employee well-being - and, in turn, promoting pro-social behavior in the workplace.