| The workplace has been transformed radically by alternative work arrangements that allow workers to complete their job assignments in a location away from the traditional office. The typical alternative work location is the worker's home or a satellite worksite. Telecommuting is one such arrangement that has increased in popularity within organizations of various sizes and locations throughout the United States and the world. This alternative work arrangement brings many advantages and disadvantages to the individual worker, the organization, and society. Although job satisfaction may improve among workers who telecommute, perceptions of social and professional isolation can be a challenge for workers. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and isolation among workers in the telecommuting work environment. An online survey, consisting of the Job Descriptive Index including the Job in General Scale, the Workplace Isolation Scale, and work experience and demographic factors, assessed job satisfaction and isolation among telecommuters and nontelecommuters in a federal government agency. Results showed a statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and the perception of isolation among workers in the telecommuting work environment. Study findings showed rejection of the null hypothesis of no relationship between job satisfaction and isolation among telecommuters and nontelecommuters. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis indicated that the relationships among the six job satisfaction scales (Work on Present Job, Pay, Opportunities for Promotion, Supervision, People on Present Job, and Job in General) and the two workplace isolation scales (Company and Colleagues) were statistically significant. For telecommuters and nontelecommuters, the data revealed a stronger correlation between job satisfaction and lower perceptions of company workplace isolation (professional) than between job satisfaction and lower perceptions of colleague workplace isolation (social), indicating that workers perceived less isolation from the organization than from their colleagues. Although the study results indicated workers, both telecommuters and nontelecommuters, experienced job satisfaction and perceived less isolation, as organizations continue to implement telecommuting programs and workers pursue workplace flexibility, further investigation of the relationship between job satisfaction and isolation in the telecommuting work environment is warranted. |
