Determinants of psychological empowerment and work engagement during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: Existing studies have demonstrated the significances of job, personal and social resources in stimulating work engagement (WKE). However, the role of psychological empowerment (PYE) in linking these resources to WKE has received limited attention. Hence, drawing on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this paper investigates the effects of friends and family support (FFS), supervisor support (SST), and employee resilience (ERS) in stimulating PYE for WKE amid the uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: With a survey instrument, the authors collected data from 259 knowledge workers in Malaysia and analyzed the hypothesized model with the partial least square (PLS) structural equation modeling technique. Findings: The data support the significant effects of FFS, SST, and ERS on PYE. Also, PYE was a significant mediator of FFS, SST, and ERS effects on WKE. Originality/value: This study offers empirical support for the relevance of COR theory in explaining how employees adjust to the burden of uncertainty and psychological stress associated with the COVID-19 mandated “work from home” (WFH) practices through their engagement in work.