The double-edged sword of online access to work tools outside work: The relationship with flexible working, work interrupting nonwork behaviors and job satisfaction

Abstract

Introduction: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide employees with online access to work tools outside work (OAWT), which can be seen as a double-edged sword fostering positive as well as negative aspects of flexibility. In our study, we investigated how OAWT relates to different forms of flexible working, work interrupting nonwork behaviors and job satisfaction. Method: We used a randomized sample of 758 Austrian employees from a broad range of organizations and tested the hypotheses by means of structural equation modeling. Results: Our findings revealed that OAWT is associated with available flexibility which relates positively to job satisfaction. However, at the same time, it is associated with required flexibility which relates negatively to job satisfaction and positively to work interrupting nonwork behaviors. OAWT has also been found to strengthen the positive relationship between required temporal flexibility and work interrupting nonwork behaviors, and attenuated the negative relationship between required temporal flexibility and job satisfaction. Implications: We discuss the practical implications and develop recommendations on how organizations should deal with OAWT.