The Relationship Between Personality and Job Outcomes in Flexible Work Arrangements: Time and Location

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between an individual’s personality and perceptions of behavioral job outcomes including effectiveness and job satisfaction when working in a flexible work arrangement (e.g., time-independent and location-independent). A total of 93 full-time employees participated in this study via an online survey. Results showed that personality was significantly related to perceptions of effectiveness in both time- and location-independent work arrangements. Extraversion had a significant, negative relationship with both types of flexibility, while intellect/imagination had a significant, positive relationship with each. Location-independent work arrangements also had a significant, positive relationship with conscientiousness, such that an employee who was open, thoughtful, and reserved had an increased likelihood of perceiving himself or herself as effective in a location-flexible work arrangement. Additionally, job satisfaction was significantly correlated with perceptions of effectiveness in both types of flexible work arrangements. The major implication of the findings is that personality may be an effective way to identify candidates for specific types of flexible work arrangements