Investigating the Impact of Remote Working on Employee Productivity and Work-life Balance: A Study on the Business Consultancy Industry in Dubai, UAE
Volume 8, Issue 1 Melvin S. Rañeses, Noor un Nisa, Edgar Suliva Bacason, Salvacion Martir
Published online:28 June 2022
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AbstractReferencesCite
The advancements in digitalization have sparked the way traditional work takes place. COVID-19 pandemic has also prompted a drastic change for modification of the usual work setting. These give rise to remote working, also known as telework, hot desking, work from home, hoteling, and a flexible work plan through which a worker achieves his/her tasks in a place remote from the customary office. Studies have found that remote working brings several challenges and benefits to workers. People who practiced remote working have shown an increase in their job performance and job satisfaction. However, other workers have expressed concerns on other aspects such as pressures in time management, loneliness due to less or absence of interaction among workers, and the feeling of being left out. This study aims to examine remote working and its impact on the productivity and work-life balance of the employees in the business consultancy industry in Dubai, UAE. This is quantitative research wherein descriptive and correlation research designs employing regression analysis were utilized. 96 employees working in the administration and office from different organizations in the business setup division were sampled using purposive sampling. Analysis of the responses demonstrated that remote working has a strong positive relation to employees’ productivity. However, results also showed that remote working has no significant impact on the employees’ work-life balance. On these bases, employers should take responsibility for the health and safety of the workers under their care whether or not the work is being done remotely. Similarly, employees should also take responsibility for themselves by carefully following the guidelines and procedures enforced by their employers. Further research is needed to identify other factors or variables that could bring fresh perspectives to elucidate the impact of remote working further.
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