A10.2
Tracks
Stream A
| Saturday, October 31, 2026 |
| 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM |
Overview
Taming Uncertainty in Hybrid Work: The Power of Consistent and Aligned Work Location Patterns | 15 mins
Presenter
Franzisca Fastje
University Of Queensland
Taming Uncertainty in Hybrid Work: The Power of Consistent and Aligned Work Location Patterns
2:00 PM - 2:15 PMAbstract
Aim:
The aim of this presentation is to examine how hybrid work arrangements shape work-related uncertainty and, in turn, employee job satisfaction and performance. Although hybrid work offers flexibility, it can also create ambiguity about when, where, and how colleagues connect and collaborate. This study addresses a key gap in prior working from home research by moving beyond the individual and considering the social context of work location choices within teams. Specifically, it introduces consistency and alignment of work location patterns within teams to explain how hybrid work can better balance flexibility with stability and, thus, reduce work-related uncertainty.
Content:
Drawing on uncertainty management theory, this presentation shows how hybrid work arrangements can create uncertainty when employees alternate between home and office without predictable or coordinated patterns. Using survey and performance data from 466 knowledge workers nested in 84 teams in a large automotive organisation in the Netherlands, the study examines whether consistent and aligned work location patterns reduce uncertainty and improve outcomes. Findings show that alignment in work location lowers work-related uncertainty and enhances both job satisfaction and supervisor-rated performance, particularly when team member familiarity is low to moderate. Consistency in work location does not show a general main effect on work-related uncertainty but becomes beneficial in reducing uncertainty and supporting satisfaction when team member familiarity is low.
Goal:
The goal of this session is to help attendees understand that effective hybrid work design is not only about how much employees work from home, but also about how predictable and coordinated work location patterns are across team members. The session will offer evidence-based guidance for designing hybrid work arrangements that reduce uncertainty and support well-being and performance. Attention will be given to practical actions such as aligning in-office days and fostering familiarity among team members.
The aim of this presentation is to examine how hybrid work arrangements shape work-related uncertainty and, in turn, employee job satisfaction and performance. Although hybrid work offers flexibility, it can also create ambiguity about when, where, and how colleagues connect and collaborate. This study addresses a key gap in prior working from home research by moving beyond the individual and considering the social context of work location choices within teams. Specifically, it introduces consistency and alignment of work location patterns within teams to explain how hybrid work can better balance flexibility with stability and, thus, reduce work-related uncertainty.
Content:
Drawing on uncertainty management theory, this presentation shows how hybrid work arrangements can create uncertainty when employees alternate between home and office without predictable or coordinated patterns. Using survey and performance data from 466 knowledge workers nested in 84 teams in a large automotive organisation in the Netherlands, the study examines whether consistent and aligned work location patterns reduce uncertainty and improve outcomes. Findings show that alignment in work location lowers work-related uncertainty and enhances both job satisfaction and supervisor-rated performance, particularly when team member familiarity is low to moderate. Consistency in work location does not show a general main effect on work-related uncertainty but becomes beneficial in reducing uncertainty and supporting satisfaction when team member familiarity is low.
Goal:
The goal of this session is to help attendees understand that effective hybrid work design is not only about how much employees work from home, but also about how predictable and coordinated work location patterns are across team members. The session will offer evidence-based guidance for designing hybrid work arrangements that reduce uncertainty and support well-being and performance. Attention will be given to practical actions such as aligning in-office days and fostering familiarity among team members.
.....
(Soon-to-be) Dr. Franzisca Fastje is Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Queensland. Her research interests centre around the dynamics of modern team arrangements (e.g., hybrid, virtual), communication practices, and sustained well-being in the workplace. Having worked in HR and in academia across different countries and continent, Franzisca is driven to conduct research that has practical relevance and value. During her PhD, she achieved this by collaborating with various organizations in the Netherlands and presenting research findings to HR practitioners, work councils, and managers. Methodologically, Franzisca has experience in multilevel modelling, polynomial regression, and social network analysis. Outside of work, Franzisca teaches yoga, enjoys being involved in external service roles (e.g., former board member of the INGRoup Board of Directors and the pHResh Network), and spends as much time outdoors as possible.
