Intersection of Hybrid Work Models and Community Engagement: Impact on Employee Happiness & Motivation

Abstract Book of the 11th International Conference on Social Sciences in the 21st Century

Year: 2026

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Intersection of Hybrid Work Models and Community Engagement: Impact on Employee Happiness & Motivation

Anshetta Nanda

ABSTRACT:

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped work and community dynamics, with hybrid work models becoming the new norm. My research explores how hybrid work influences peoples social interactions within their local communities and how these changes affect their happiness and motivation at work. By bridging organizational studies and community psychology, my study addresses a critical gap in understanding the external factors, such as community engagement, that influence employee well-being in hybrid work environments.
Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory design, my study focuses on a community-oriented setting to capture rich, contextual insights. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and participant generated drawings to understand the emotional and sensory dimensions of community interactions. The psychological sense of community framework, especially, the ecological model of understanding social systems, will be used as a sensitizing framework.
Pilor interviews showed a recurring theme of community involvement via online groups on meetup and Cliq. Key findings from the pilot revealed that the questions were less relevant to participants due to their urban lifestyles and transient living situations. Their lack of community engagement highlighted the need to recruit participants from areas with stronger community integration, similar to Norwich, to better align with the study’s focus on local community dynamics.

Keywords: Community, Sense of Belonging, Hybrid Work Models, Happiness, Motivation