O-290 Antecedents of Work Engagement in Digitalized Work Environments: A Study of Knowledge Workers in the Baltic States

Abstract Introduction Intensified digitalization in the contemporary world of work may considerably alter the psychosocial working conditions, which in turn, affects employee performance and well-being. While there is an extant body of research on traditional working environments, the knowledge about resources that are the most pertinent for employees in digitalized workplaces is still incomplete. To address this gap, we draw on the Job Demands-Resources theory (Bakker & Demerouti, 2017) to investigate the drivers of work engagement in the context of high versus low work digitalization. Methods Our sample consisted of 1635 salaried employees from the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia), who participated in the 2021 edition of the European Working Conditions Survey. A set of positive working conditions (i.e., job and organizational resources), pertaining to autonomy, co-worker relationships and personal development, were investigated as predictors of work engagement. Multigroup linear regression analyses were performed, comparing employees subjected to a different level of work digitalization. Results Significant between-group differences in the predictive patterns of work engagement were observed. Skill use at work was the strongest predictor overall, whereas the role of other resources was dependent on the digitalization component. In low digitalization settings, co-worker relationships were more salient than autonomy. The opposite pattern was found in highly digitalized work environments. Discussion Our findings unravel job and organizational resources for work engagement in the changing world of work, implying that work digitalization may determine which resources are the most pertinent. Conclusion Organizations may need to leverage resource optimization strategies depending on the level of work digitalization.