Transforming workplaces with metaverse technologies: employee perspectives from emerging economies

Purpose This study aims to delve into the empirical gap regarding the metaverse’s impact on job satisfaction within the corporate sector. Aiming to explore how perceptions of the metaverse’s usefulness and ease of use influence job satisfaction, this study seeks to offer insights for organisations contemplating integrating metaverse technologies. Design/methodology/approach Using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) 4.0 with a targeted sample of 385 corporate employees in southern India, this study assesses constructs such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, metaverse integration satisfaction and metaverse empowerment satisfaction. Findings The analysis reveals a significant positive correlation between the metaverse’s perceived benefits and job satisfaction. The results highlight the critical roles of technological ease of use and utility in enhancing employee satisfaction levels within the corporate sector. Practical implications This study contributes to the digital workplace innovation discourse, providing empirical evidence of the metaverse’s potential to improve job satisfaction. It introduces a pioneering scale for assessing the metaverse’s organisational impacts, offering a robust tool for future investigations. Originality/value The research uniquely examines the metaverse’s role in fostering job satisfaction and advocating its strategic adoption in corporate strategies. It underscores the managerial implications of metaverse technologies, suggesting their potential to cultivate more engaged and satisfied workforces, thus adding original value to the existing body of knowledge on digital workplace transformations.