Smart working: how the supervisor support can affect the employee stress level

According to a range of research studies, telecommuters are happier, healthier and experience less work-life conflict and stress if they are given a substantial degree of control over where and when they work. However, a few of these studies highlight the risk of work intensification and other potential well-being risks derived from telecommuting. Remote workers can present challenges for supervisors both in developing trust and a change to their working practices. Many literatures suggest that one factor which limits the adoption of smart working is the reluctance of managers and supervisors. Some managers view teleworkers as somehow less central or dedicated to the corporate mission. Traditional methods of coordinating and controlling employees are no more efficient and may be dysfunctional in telework environments, therefore managers and supervisors need to take fresh approaches to support efficiently the smart workers. In this thesis we examine how the supervisor support and feedback can affect the level of stress of telecommuters by taking into consideration also the supervisor support received by the traditional worker.