Workplace uncertainty arises when employees perceive a general lack of information on various components of their workplace. However, the role of daily workplace uncertainty has been underexplored among full-time remote employees. Based on affective events theory, we hypothesize that workplace uncertainty in remote settings functions as a daily event capable of eliciting emotional ambivalence, consequently leading to disengagement, such as remote withdrawal at a daily level and turnover intention at an individual level. In addition, we examine the moderating effects of individual differences (i.e. external employability) as well as contextual factors (i.e., team-member exchange) on the above relationships. Results of a multi-source diary study among 120 full-time remote employees over 10 days (N = 1,099) showed that daily increasing workplace uncertainty is linked to higher remote withdrawal through heightened emotional ambivalence. Furthermore, external employability strengthens the relationship between increasing workplace uncertainty and emotional ambivalence. Team-member exchange mitigates the relationship between emotional ambivalence and remote withdrawal. Our study also assessed participants' turnover intentions after six months, revealing a positive relationship between daily remote withdrawal and turnover intention. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
