EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION IN VIRTUAL WORKPLACES: THE INFLUENCE OF REMOTE WORK CULTURE IN IT SECTOR

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote and hybrid work models, especially within the IT sector, prompting a reevaluation of organizational practices that influence employee satisfaction. This empirical study investigates the impact of remote work culture on employee satisfaction, focusing on the mediating roles of organizational culture, career development, and managerial communication. Adopting a quantitative research design, primary data was collected from 178 IT professionals using a structured questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21. The results indicate a significant and positive impact of all three mediating variables on employee satisfaction in remote work settings. Organizational culture emerged as the most influential factor, followed closely by managerial communication and career development opportunities. The reliability of the instrument was confirmed with a high Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.909), ensuring consistency in responses. While the study offers valuable insights into the relationship between remote work and employee well-being in the IT sector, the findings may have limited generalizability beyond this industry. Nonetheless, the research contributes to the growing body of literature on virtual work environments and offers practical guidance for enhancing employee satisfaction in remote organizational contexts.