Telework, job autonomy and work-life equation: A model for understanding job embeddedness

Telework has gained significant relevance in recent years; however, its effects on work-life balance remain unclear, particularly in the context of the evolving and complex nature of work environments in which telework conditions, such as job autonomy, vary. Employee retention poses a significant challenge to human resource management, and the factors that contribute to job embeddedness and its dimensions (links, fit, and sacrifice) are not yet fully understood. For these reasons, this study aims to examine how the extent of telework and job autonomy influence work-life balance and how, in turn, work-life balance affects links, fit, and sacrifice. A non-experimental quantitative design was utilized, with convenience sampling of 175 full-time workers (60.60% engaged in telework) from Lima, Peru, all of whom had at least 6 months of experience in their current positions. Data were collected between November 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 using a virtual survey administered via Google Forms. The results of the PLS-SEM analysis revealed that telework and job autonomy positively influenced work-life balance. Furthermore, work-life balance was found to be positively related to links, fit, and sacrifice. This research enhances the understanding of these relationships from the perspective of conservation of resources (COR) theory. Given these findings, we recommend promoting job autonomy regardless of work modality to enhance work-life balance. Moreover, organizations should invest in practices that support work-life balance to encourage employee retention.