The Effect of Remote Work on Employee Engagement in Malaysian Multicultural Organizations: The Moderating Role of Organizational Support
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53797/ujssh.v5i1.5.2026Keywords:
Remote work, Employee Engagement, Perceived Organizational Support (POS), Malaysian Service Sector, Job Demands-Resources (JD-R)Abstract
The transition to remote work has become a strategic imperative for the Malaysian service sector in the post-pandemic digital economy. However, the whether remote work enhances employee engagement remains contested, with scholarly debate focusing on the tension between increased autonomy and professional isolation. Drawing upon the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and Social Exchange Theory (SET), this study investigates the linkage between Remote Work and Employee Engagement, specifically examining the moderating role of Perceived Organizational Support (POS). A quantitative approach was adopted, utilizing self-administered surveys to gather data from 312 knowledge workers across Malaysia's multicultural IT, finance, and education sectors. The hypothesized relationships were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings reveal a significant positive direct relationship between Remote Work and Employee Engagement, suggesting that flexibility serves as a vital job resource. Additionally, Perceived Organizational Support exerts a significant direct influence on engagement. Critically, the analysis confirms a significant positive interaction effect, indicating that POS moderates this relationship: the beneficial impact of remote work on engagement is amplified under conditions of high organizational support. This research advances theoretical understanding by demonstrating that remote work functions as a "conditional resource," whose effectiveness depends on the level of support provided. For Malaysian practitioners, these findings imply that cultivating a supportive organizational culture that transcends physical boundaries is essential for sustaining an engaged hybrid workforce and mitigating isolation risks within a high-context society.
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