The Relationship Between Flexible Work Arrangements on Employees’ Work Performance Among Generation Z

Abstract

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs), including remote work, flextime, and hybrid models, have become increasingly important in modern employment, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. For Generation Z, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, flexibility, autonomy, and digital integration are essential workplace expectations. While global studies highlight both benefits and challenges of FWAs, limited research exists in Malaysia, especially concerning their impact on Gen Z employees. This study aims to examine the relationship between FWAs and employee work performance among Generation Z employees in Telecommunication Company, Melaka. A quantitative design was employed using structured questionnaires, with two validated instruments: the Flexible Work Arrangement Questionnaire (Bijsterveldt, 2015) and the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (Platania et al., 2023). The unit of analysis was individual employees, and data were collected from 86 Gen Z respondents. Findings revealed that FWAs were moderately implemented, while employee performance levels were generally high. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between FWAs and work performance, particularly in task and contextual performance, while counterproductive work behaviour showed a negative association. The study concludes that FWAs enhance motivation, productivity, and retention of Gen Z talent. This study also recommends structured FWA policies, digital collaboration tools, and managerial training to optimize flexible practices.