Abstract It has been shown that employees with high affective commitment promote organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) even in the presence of organizational constraint factors, meaning it is necessary to investigate organizational constraint factors’ impact on Japanese employees during a pandemic. As such, this study investigates how the rapid digital transformation and widespread adoption of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced OCB among employees. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with Japanese workers, we explore the nuanced ways in which virtual communication, visibility of effort, and informal support systems have reshaped interpersonal dynamics and discretionary workplace behaviors. Our findings reveal that, while remote work environments can hinder spontaneous acts of citizenship due to reduced physical proximity and visibility, they also foster new forms of digital support and initiative-taking. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting culturally specific expressions of OCB in Japan and offering practical implications for organizational leaders seeking to sustain employee engagement in hybrid or remote settings.
Asai et al. (2026) studied this question.