Exploring the Role of Job Embeddedness in Digital Platform Workers: The Interplay between Personality Traits, Polychronicity and Perceived Organizational Support

Digitalization is revolutionizing economies and societies across the globe, at an unprecedented rate and scope. As a result of automation and digitalization, the digital platform economy has emerged as a latest form of employment in various sectors and occupations. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Personality Traits, Polychronicity, Perceived Organizational Support and Job Embeddedness in Digital Platform Workers. Cross sectional research design was employed in this research and the participants were recruited through non-probability purposive sampling. The sample size was comprised of (N=206) digital platform workers within the age range of 18 to 35 years (M= 24.64, SD= 3.92) from different social media platforms. The Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) (Rammstedt & John, 2007), the Multitasking Preference Inventory (Poposki & Oswald, 2010), Perceived Organizational Support Scale (Eisenberger et al., 1986) and Job Embeddedness Scale (Mitchell et al., 2001) were used to measure the variables in the study. The results showed that Personality Traits, Polychronicity and Perceived Organizational Support are significant predictors of Job Embeddedness and have significant correlation between them. Polychronicity also served as a mediator between all the Personality Traits and Job Embeddedness. The findings of the study have significant implications for organizational behaviors within Pakistani context. Organizations, particularly digital platform firms, can improve job embeddedness by taking personality traits and polychronicity preferences into account during the recruitment process.