“I am OK when you are with me” – Understanding the well-being and innovative behavior in the digitized workspace

Abstract

Purpose

The study aimed at understanding the relationship between supervisor and coworker support, psychological contract fulfillment, work engagement, well-being (different forms) and innovative behavior in the digitized workspace during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via a structured questionnaire through Google Docs from 239 respondents working in the sales department of the consumer durable industry through snowball sampling.

Findings

Supervisor and coworker support was positively contributing to psychological contract fulfillment. Further, psychological contract fulfillment was positively contributing to work engagement. Along with innovative behavior, four forms of well-being, i.e. emotional, psychological, workspace and life were studied as outcome variables. Work engagement positively contributes to innovative behavior and well-being.

Research limitations/implications

The study examined the relationship between various organizational variables in consumer durable industry. Future work should involve studying the effect in other industries and functional areas.

Practical implications

The study examined how the supervisor and coworker act as an enabler in fulfilling the psychological contract in the digitized workspace. Organizations also understand the importance of work engagement in maintaining well-being and innovative behavior.

Originality/value

The paper initiates the important debate on well-being and innovative behavior in the digitized workspace for the sales employees of the consumer durable industry.

Citation

Karani, A. and Mehta, S.A. (2022), "“I am OK when you are with me” – Understanding the well-being and innovative behavior in the digitized workspace", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 42 No. 5/6, pp. 583-602. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-05-2021-0127