Psychometric properties of the perception of telework practices (PTP) scale: measuring advantages and drawbacks in the Lebanese context.

Abstract

Telework, also known as remote work or telecommuting, has become increasingly prevalent in modern work environments, especially in response to global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, reshaping traditional work practices and prompting questions about its impact on various aspects of work life, including the perceived advantages and drawbacks. This study aimed to develop and validate a scale that assesses the benefits and disadvantages of remote working. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023 using a self-report questionnaire. Snowball sampling enabled the enrollment of 230 participants aged 20 to 80, divided into three categories based on their employment type: face-to-face, telework, and hybrid. The exploratory factor analysis of the perception of telework practices total scale produced two subscales (subscale 1: Perceived Drawbacks and subscale 2: Perceived Advantages of Telework Practices). The advantages/drawbacks of telework were positively correlated with each other and with their own factors. A significant, weak, but positive correlation was found between telework drawback and advantage scores (r = 0.266, p < 0.001). Moreover, a positive correlation was also found between the E-Work Life (EWL) subscales and the Perceived Advantages of Telework Practices. The Perceived Drawbacks scale was overall less associated with the EWL satisfaction subscale, and no significant correlation was found with productivity or flexibility. This study developed and validated the Perception of Telework Practices (PTP) scale with excellent psychometric properties. The validated scale measures telework perceptions in developing country contexts, supporting evidence-based policy and organizational decisions in modern workplaces.