Moving toward a critical understanding of employee wellbeing in hybrid work settings

Drawing on qualitative data from 21 participants, this study explores how communication practices shape people’s perceptions of employee wellbeing in hybrid and WFH roles in the post-COVID-19 era. Moving beyond a functionalist perspective, this study adopts a more critical approach to public relations, acknowledging the complexities and tensions inherent in leveraging internal communication to enhance (or detract from) employee wellbeing experiences in evolving hybrid and WFH roles. Four themes emerged from the data, including (1) Holistic Wellbeing as a Site of Tension Between Work and Home Demands; (2) Transparent Communication as a Tool and Constraint in Fostering Wellbeing; (3) Negotiating Power and Hierarchy to Enhance Employee Wellbeing; and (4) The Paradox of Openness and Trust in Communication Cultures. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.