Title: Retaining remote workers: factors that affect virtual and hybrid workers' job retention

Authors: Vasu Thirasak; Nopadol Rompho

Addresses: Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, 2 Prachan Rd., Bangkok, 10200, Thailand ' Department of Operations Management, Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, 2 Prachan Rd., Bangkok, 10200, Thailand

Abstract: This study examines factors from Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory, Deci's self-determination theory, and life-course fit theory to understand their effects on virtual and hybrid workers' job retention. Data were collected from 623 respondents in Thailand, and structural equation modelling and data analysis techniques were used to test the relationships between pay, promotion, supervision, fringe benefits, life-course fit, intrinsic motivation, and extrinsic motivation and job retention for virtual and hybrid workers, as well as the moderating effects of job level and virtual intensity. The results indicate that motivator-hygiene factors - pay, promotion, supervision, and fringe benefits - do not significantly contribute to the job retention of virtual and hybrid workers. However, the relationships between life-course fit, intrinsic motivation, and extrinsic motivation and job retention were significant. This is one of the very few studies that applies these theories in the context of virtual and hybrid work, which expands the theories' boundaries of knowledge.

Keywords: remote work; virtual work; hybrid work; job retention; motivators; hygiene factors; intrinsic motivation; extrinsic motivation; work motivation; job satisfaction; life-course fit.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2024.140215

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2024 Vol.30 No.4, pp.329 - 349

Received: 06 Aug 2023
Accepted: 30 Oct 2023
Published online: 30 Jul 2024 *

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