scholarly journals Benefits and Challenges of Telework During The Covid-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-135
Author(s):  
Susanti Saragih ◽  
◽  
Santy Setiawan ◽  
Teddy Markus ◽  
Peter Rhian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Total Respondent ◽  
Hr Managers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Work Arrangement ◽  
At Home

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the term work from home (WFH) has been introduced to refer to a work arrangement in which individual can complete their duties while they are at home. While most flexible work arrangements are a preference, work from home is mandatory. Therefore, the impact of WFH during the Covid-19 pandemic needs to be studied. The total respondent of this study is 337 employees, who are works at home during the pandemic. The results showed that the three main benefits employees might gain during WFH are flexibility, more time with family, and less travel time. On the other side, employees struggle to balance their personal and work life, access to websites or software, and limited devices and workspace. Most of the companies are not ready for the WFH scheme though some of them gave support to employees (e.g., quota subsidy). This research gave some essential suggestions for HR managers in designing remote work for the future.

scholarly journals “Family-Friendly” Jobs and Motherhood Pay Penalties: The Impact of Flexible Work Arrangements Across the Educational Spectrum

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Fuller ◽  
C. Elizabeth Hirsh
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
Flexible Work Arrangements ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Wage Gaps ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Educational Groups ◽  
Wage Penalties ◽  
Face Time ◽  
The Impact

This article focuses on how flexible work arrangements affect motherhood wage penalties for differently situated women. While theories of work–life facilitation suggest that flexible work should ease motherhood penalties, the use of flexibility policies may also invite stigma and bias against mothers. Analyses using Canadian linked workplace–employee data test these competing perspectives by examining how temporal and spatial flexibility moderate motherhood wage penalties and how this varies by women’s education. Results show that flexible work hours typically reduce mothers’ disadvantage, especially for the university educated, and that working from home also reduces wage gaps for most educational groups. The positive effect of flexibility operates chiefly by reducing barriers to mothers’ employment in higher waged establishments, although wage gaps within establishments are also diminished in some cases. While there is relatively little evidence of a flexibility stigma, the most educated do face stronger wage penalties within establishments when they substitute paid work from home for face time at the workplace as do the least educated when they bring additional unpaid work home. Overall, results are most consistent with the work–life facilitation model. However, variability in the pattern of effects underscores the importance of looking at the intersection of mothers’ education and workplace arrangements.

scholarly journals P642 Effects of Covid-19 on employment in IBD patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S575-S575
Author(s):  
M Sciberras ◽  
C Nascimento ◽  
T Tabone ◽  
K Karmiris ◽  
P Nikolaou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Data ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
International Study ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Psychosocial Effects ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Female Smoker ◽  
Previous Medication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background There is an ongoing concern over the impact of COVID-19 on IBD patients. A significant proportion of IBD patients are treated with immunosuppressive medications and their effects on COVID-19 susceptibility and outcomes remain of concern to patients and physicians alike. Apart from the clinical outcome, the pandemic may have other psychosocial effects on this vulnerable cohort such as employment stability. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the percentage of COVID-19 patients who tested themselves for COVID-19 and the outcome of those who tested positive. A secondary aim was to assess their employment status. Methods This was a multicentre international study whereby IBD patients (>18 years) in clinical remission over the last year, were asked to answer an anonymous questionnaire. Demographic data, type of IBD, current and previous medication, admissions to hospital, were collected. Exclusion criteria included patients with IBD flares requiring corticosteroids in the previous 12 months. Results 573 patients (CD: 55.5%) from 8 European Centres and Israel participated in the study. The mean patient age was 39.9 years (SD+/- 13.0). 21.6% were current smokers and 48.5% were non-smokers. The rest were ex-smokers. 44.5% (n=255 ) of patients were tested for Covid-19 and 5.1% (n=13) were positive. The majority were treated at home (92.3%) with only one patient requiring hospital admission. This was a 33 year old female smoker with UC (E3 disease activity) on anti-TNF therapy. 66.7% of positive cases were on anti-TNF medication and 22.2% were on thiopurines. None of the positive cases were on dual antiTNF/thiopurine therapy. 7.2% of patients had family members who also tested positive for Covid-19. Almost half of all patients (45.2%) had their job affected during the pandemic and this was more prevalent in the UC cohort (P<0.05). 70% of patients switched to remote work from home and 21.4% became unemployed. The average age of patients becoming unemployed was 39.3years (SD+/- 11.9). Conclusion Nearly half of our cohort (45.2%) underwent testing and the majority (92.3%) were treated at home even though two thirds of them were on Anti-TNF medication. Unemployment rates affected 1 in 5 individuals and measures promoting remote work have been taken up wisely by IBD patients. Though the clinical outcomes were excellent, the psychological effects of unemployment have yet to be considered.

Flexible Work Arrangements, Job Satisfaction and Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3(J)) ◽  
pp. 268-277
Author(s):  
Govender L. ◽  
Migiro S. O. ◽  
Kyule A. K.
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Shared Services ◽  
Flexible Work Arrangements ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Flexible Work Arrangement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Work Arrangement

Flexible work arrangements (FWA) prefer to flexibility regarding an employee’s work location, working times and how much an employee works . FWA practices are designed to keep employees motivated and satisfied with work and non -work related roles. Existing empirical studies on the impact of flexible work arrangements on performance, and job satisfaction have mostly been conducted in developed countries. This paper sought to address this gap by undertaking a study in an organization specific context in a developing country, in particular Durban Westville Eskom, South Africa. The main aim of this paper was to establish the relationship between flexible work arrangements, performance and job satisfaction at Durban Westville Eskom shared services department. This paper is anchored on the two - factor theory, Vrooms expectancy theory, Role theory, and Spillover theory. The target population consisted of 120 employees reporting to revenue management shared services. Simple random sampling technique was used to determine the sample size whereby a sample of 92 employees was obtained . An online questionnaire was used to collect data from the sample. Data was analysed through descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The findings show that a majority are satisfied with their current work arrangements, and that flexible work arrangement could make them stay with their current employer. In addition, it was found that performance and flexible work arrangement have a strong positive correlation. The study concluded that flexible work arrangements enhanced employee retention, and job satisfaction which led to higher productivity.

scholarly journals Home Production and Leisure during the COVID-19 Recession

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oksana Leukhina ◽  
Zhixiu Yu
Keyword(s):  
Labor Markets ◽  
Time Allocation ◽  
Home Production ◽  
Market Work ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
School Closures ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Production Activity ◽  
Married Individuals ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Between the months of February and April of 2020, average weekly market hours in the U.S. dropped by 6.25, meanwhile 36% of workers reported switching to remote work arrangements. In this paper, we examine implications of these changes for the time allocation of different households, and on aggregate. We estimate that home production activity increased by 2.65 h a week, or 42.4% of lost market hours, due to the drop in market work and rise in remote work. The monthly value of home production increased by $39.65 billion – that is 13.55% of the concurrent $292.61 billion drop in monthly GDP. Although market hours declined the most for single, less educated individuals, the lost market hours were absorbed into home production the most by married individuals with children. Adding on the impact of school closures, our estimate of weekly home production hours increases by as much as 4.92 h. The increase in the value of monthly home production between February and April updates to $73.57 billion. We also report the estimated impact of labor markets and telecommuting on home production for each month in 2020.

scholarly journals Has the Economic Lockdown Following the Covid-19 Pandemic Changed the Gender Division of Labor in Israel?

2021 ◽  
pp. 089124322110012
Author(s):  
Meir Yaish ◽  
Hadas Mandel ◽  
Tali Kristal
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Unpaid Work ◽  
Paid Work ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
The Family ◽  
Allocation Of Time ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Families With Children

The economic shutdown and national lockdown following the outbreak of COVID-19 have increased demand for unpaid work at home, particularly among families with children, and reduced demand for paid work. Concurrently, the share of the workforce that has relocated its workplace to home has also increased. In this article, we examine the consequences of these processes for the allocation of time among paid work, housework, and care work for men and women in Israel. Using data on 2,027 Israeli adults whom we followed since the first week of March (before the spread of COVID-19), we focus on the effect of the second lockdown in Israel (in September) on the gender division of both paid and unpaid work. We find that as demand for housework caused by the lockdown increases, women—especially with children—increase their housework much more than men do, particularly when they work from home. The consequences of work from home and other flexible work arrangements for gender inequality within the family are discussed.

scholarly journals Flexible Work Arrangements and Their Impact on the Employee Performance of Egyptian Private University Employees: (A Case Study on the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport)

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Eshak ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Flexible Work Arrangements ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed to analyse the impact of flexible work arrangements on the employee performance of employees in private Egyptian universities in Alexandria, mediated by work-life balance (applied to the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport). institutions to retain talented people, raise the efficiency of employee performance, and thus raise the efficiency of institutional performance and competitive capabilities of organizations. The researcher used the descriptive analytical method and the questionnaire as a tool for data collection, to measure the impact of flexible work arrangements (focusing on reducing working hours, benefits provided to employees, work policies towards parenting) on the work-life balance, and the extent of the impact of all this on raising the efficiency of employees' employee performance. A stratified random sample of 423 employees was used, and the data collected was analysed using SPSS and AMOS statistical software. The findings revealed a positive relationship between flexible work arrangements (reduced working hours, benefits provided to employees, and work policies toward parenting) and employee performance, as well as a positive relationship between flexible work arrangements and work-life balance, as well as a positive relationship between work-life balance and employee performance, and the researcher recommends implementing such policies.The recommendations also include the need to review current labour laws before legislators, and update them in line with contemporary technological development and the requirement to achieve a balance between the requirements of life and work. This study also recommends the adoption of reducing working hours as one of the flexible work policies offered by organisations to employees. The study concludes that flexible work arrangements and programmes are in fact a competitive tool that organisations can use to increase loyalty, improve performance, achieve commitment and job satisfaction, which enhances the organization's productivity.

Making Workplace Flexibility Work

2019 ◽  
pp. 133-160
Author(s):  
Jamie Ladge ◽  
Danna Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Working Mothers ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Workplace Flexibility ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Integrate Work ◽  
Flexible Work Arrangement ◽  
Work Arrangement ◽  
Varied Work

Chapter 6 focuses on the topic of flexible work arrangements. Workplace flexibility is often romanticized as an answer to all the challenges working mothers face. While flexibility can be particularly helpful to working mothers as they integrate work and family, it also introduces new complexities working mothers need to consider. This chapter helps women develop a more comprehensive understanding of workplace flexibility. We start with an overview of the different types of flexibility and some of the benefits and challenges women have experienced with these varied work arrangements. We go on to introduce strategies women can put in place to take advantage of a flexible work arrangement and to ensure they are negotiating workplace flexibility in such a way that they don’t trade flexibility for compensation.

Chasing productivity demands, worker well-being, and firm performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 1823-1843
Author(s):  
Mastura Ab Wahab ◽  
Ekrem Tatoglu
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Flexible Work Arrangements ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of chasing productivity demands on worker well-being and firm performance in manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Flexible work arrangements and human resources support are used as moderators to mitigate the adverse impacts associated with chasing productivity demands.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 213 workers from manufacturing firms through a survey questionnaire utilizing structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings of the study show that flexible work arrangements play a significant role in moderating the relationship between chasing productivity demands and well-being, and between chasing productivity demands and firm performance. The study also shows that flexible work arrangements are important to buffer the adverse effects of chasing productivity demands on worker well-being. In addition, flexible work arrangements strengthen the positive effect of worker well-being on firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study highlights the importance of flexible work arrangements in overcoming the negative impact of the relationship between chasing productivity demands and worker well-being and strengthening the positive impact of the relationship between worker well-being and firm performance.Originality/valueThis study has extended the variable of chasing productivity demands in the existing literature on the job demands–job control model, specifically in manufacturing firms.

scholarly journals Comparing the Effects of FIFO/DIDO Workers Being Home versus Away on Sleep and Loneliness for Partners of Australian Mining Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-98
Author(s):  
Kerrie-ann I. Wilson ◽  
Sally A. Ferguson ◽  
Amanda Rebar ◽  
Kristie-Lee Alfrey ◽  
Grace E. Vincent
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Insufficient Sleep ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Excessive Sleepiness ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Fly in Fly out/Drive in Drive out (FIFO/DIDO) is a prevalent work arrangement in the Australian mining industry and has been associated with adverse outcomes such as psychological stress, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and work/life interference. FIFO/DIDO work arrangements have the potential to not only impact the FIFO/DIDO worker, but also the partner of the FIFO/DIDO worker. However, there is sparse empirical evidence on the impact of FIFO/DIDO work arrangements on partners’ sleep and subsequent performance. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to describe and compare partners’ sleep quality, sleep duration, sleepiness, and loneliness when the FIFO/DIDO workers were at home (off-shift) and away (on-shift). A secondary aim of this study was to examine whether differences in partners’ sleep quality and sleep duration as a result of FIFO/DIDO worker’s absence could be partially explained through the presence of dependents in the home, relationship duration, chronotype, duration in a FIFO/DIDO role, and loneliness. Self-reported questionnaires were completed by 195 female and 4 male participants, mostly aged between 18 and 44 years and who had been in a relationship with a FIFO/DIDO mining worker for more than five years. Of note, most participants subjectively reported poor sleep quality, insufficient sleep duration, excessive sleepiness, and moderate to extreme loneliness compared to the general population regardless of whether the FIFO/DIDO workers were at home or away. Compared to when the FIFO/DIDO workers were at home, partners experienced reduced sleep quality and increased loneliness when the FIFO/DIDO workers were away. Secondary analyses revealed that loneliness may partially underpin the negative effect that FIFO/DIDO workers’ absence has on sleep quality. Further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to poor sleep quality, insufficient sleep duration, excessive sleepiness, and loneliness of FIFO/DIDO partners to inform appropriate strategies to support FIFO/DIDO partners’ health and wellbeing not only in the mining population, but other industries that incorporate similar FIFO/DIDO work arrangements (e.g., emergency services, offshore drilling, and transport).

Significant household factors that influence an IT employees’ job effectiveness while on work from home

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Sridhar ◽  
Sanjay Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Work Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Job Effectiveness ◽  
Household Factors ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
It Employees ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Purpose The purpose of this study is to find out the significant factor/s relating to an information technology (IT) employee’s household that determines the job effectiveness of an employee. Design/methodology/approach The approach involves surveying IT employees from across levels of work-experience, companies and cities on household factors that affect their job effectiveness while they work from home and uses discriminant analysis to find out important factor/s that determines if an employee’s job effectiveness remains constant or is better at the workplace that at home. Findings The number of elderly staying in the house, age of the eldest member of the household, observable power cuts at home and number of cars owned by individuals were found to be significant factors affecting an IT employees’ job effectiveness. Originality/value The study targets a very niche area of the impact of household factors on an IT employee. The findings of this research enable IT organizations from India with insights and enable them to come up with innovative interventions to manage employees on a personalized basis to improve an employees’ job effectiveness and drive organizational effectiveness on a whole, during and post the COVID-19 pandemic.

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