Hybrid Connections: Unveiling Emotional Intelligence's Influence on Hybrid Work Perceptions and Job Performance

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Human Resource Management
• Workplace Well-being

Background:

• Hybrid work models have become prevalent post-pandemic, yet their impact on job performance remains unclear.
• Existing research lacks a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms linking hybrid work to performance outcomes.
• The Job Demands-Resources model provides a framework for examining workplace factors influencing performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the indirect effect of hybrid work perceptions on job performance via occupational stress reduction.
• To examine the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between hybrid work and job performance.
• To provide empirical evidence on optimizing hybrid work strategies for enhanced employee well-being and productivity.

Main Methods:

• A time-lagged survey design was employed, collecting data from 1055 hybrid workers in Portuguese financial organizations across three time points.
• Quantitative analysis utilized SPSS PROCESS Macro and JASP software to test the proposed conceptual model.
• The study examined the mediating role of occupational stress and the moderating influence of emotional intelligence.

Main Results:

• A positive perception of hybrid work was found to significantly enhance job performance by decreasing occupational stress.
• The positive indirect effect of hybrid work perception on job performance was more pronounced for individuals with higher emotional intelligence.
• Emotional intelligence moderates the relationship, indicating its crucial role in mediating the benefits of hybrid work.

Conclusions:

• Fostering emotional intelligence is essential for maximizing the benefits of hybrid work arrangements.
• Hybrid work management strategies should incorporate emotional intelligence development to improve employee well-being and job performance.
• The findings contribute to understanding the interplay between hybrid work, stress, emotional intelligence, and performance in modern workplaces.