Mindfulness matters: unravelling its influence on job demands and emotional exhaustion in remote work

Purpose The study aims to investigate the impact of job demands-client-front demands (JDCF) and job demands-office-front demands (JDOF) and family demands (FD) on the perceived competency of work from home (PCWFH) and emotional exhaustion (EE) of remote workers. The study also investigates the impact of mindfulness as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach To study the variables, a quantitative survey of 675 remote workers and an interview of 30 remote workers was conducted. The data analysis showed that JDCF, JDOF and FD significantly and negatively affect PCWFH. PCWFH also had a negative impact on EE, supporting the detrimental effect of poor perceived competence on increasing EEs. Findings The finding emphasises the value of a supportive work environment and mindfulness training sessions in dealing with the difficulties of remote work. The study concluded that respondents with mindfulness training better manage their emotions to produce better work results. Practical implications Managers should include mindfulness practice in their daily routine to enhance their performance and manage EE in remote work. Originality/value In augmenting mindfulness literature, this study provides insight into how managers can leverage on mindfulness practice to improve performance.