Explaining the Take-Up of Virtual Work: The Role of Virtual Self-Efficacy and Virtual Work Climate

Previous research has shown that virtual work (work that is performed away from a central office using technology) is able to provide benefits for the individual employee (e.g., less stress, higher job satisfaction, and higher productivity), the organization (e.g., lower real estate costs and higher commitment and performance), and society (less traffic, less pollution, and lower healthcare costs through reduced stress and work-family conflict). To exploit the potential of virtual work, more and more organizations allow their employees to work virtually. Surprisingly, a significant number of employees feel hesitant to engage in virtual work. In our study, we therefore investigate the predictors of virtual work take-up. More specifically, we examine the predicting roles of virtual work self-efficacy and perceptions of virtual work climate for individual virtual work take-up. We also analyze the moderating role of virtual work climate on the relationship between virtual work self-efficacy and virtual work t...