Commitment Beyond Proximity: Exploring Experiences of Organizational Commitment in Remote Work Settings

Abstract

This study examines how remote working affects three aspects of organizational commitment: affective, continuance and normative commitment. This is investigated through semi-structured interviews with employees in a Finnish organization that offers varying degrees of remote work flexibility. The findings suggest that although active virtual communication may help sustain a sense of community and belonging, remote work challenges affective commitment due to reduced social interaction and by changing the nature of workplace interactions. Continuance commitment, however, seems unimpacted since remote work is increasingly experienced as a baseline expectation. The study highlights that remote work increases normative commitment and a sense of reciprocity, when it’s organized in a way that it communicates trust. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of complementing active virtual communication with regular face-to-face interactions to maintain affective commitment among remote workers.