scholarly journals Work From Home: Experiences and Future Challenges - Indian Perspectives from Pandemic Coronavirus and Consequent Lockdown

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirti Makwana ◽  
Govind B Dave

Purpose- The Pandemic Coronavirus and consequent lockdown outbreak has called for "the largest Work - From - Home (WFH) experiment worldwide". Receiving huge numbers of personnel to Work-From-Home has not ever been crucial. WFH is recommended and implemented by approximately half (46%) of organizations because of the COVID-19 . Design - This research paper did an in-depth study of WFH policies and explored experiences and challenges faced by employees. 260 executives working in 37 industries/sectors were approached through an online structured questionnaire. Findings -Service Industries such as IT, Analytics, KPO, and Market Research are ready to implement Work from home. Research limitations - The research study is limited to selected cities of Gujarat and Maharashtra states of India. The survey can be extended to other cities / states / countries. Practical implications - COVID - 19 has changed the experiences of being an employee or an HR. The results generated from the research, can be useful to provide inputs to the organizations, HR managers and strategic thinkers to take decisions about implementation, continuation and challenges of WFH arrangements as a long-term HR strategy in the coming future (in selected sectors/industries). Social implications - Coronavirus, prompted major changes in life as Work from home (WFH) became the new normal. Employees embraced new routines and rules. The world saw its influence on all facets of life and has changed the way people work. Originality- The distinctiveness of this article is that it provides evidences on how Indian workforce shifted to remote work in the months after the pandemic outbreak.

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 25-27
Author(s):  
Prantika Ray ◽  
Manjari Singh

Purpose This paper aims to understand aspects of feedback given to the millennial generation, particularly in new organizations. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a review of existing literature from journals and magazines. The perspectives discussed in this paper have been substantiated with discussions with practicing line and HR managers. This paper has been further developed after conducting informal discussions with employees and their supervisors (both millennials and non-millennials). However, the synthesized perspectives expressed here are those of the authors. Findings The millennial generation has characteristics that relate to receiving feedback. Key aspects discussed in this paper are the purpose of feedback, formal versus informal methods, short versus long-term orientation, frequency, hierarchical relationships, and technology. Practical implications With the increasing entry of millennials into the workforce, organizations need to focus on the mechanisms and environments for effective feedback. Originality/value This paper is timely given the rising number of millennials entering the workforce. This work looks into the mechanisms for effective performance feedback, as well as creating a facilitating environment with the focus on employee development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-135
Author(s):  
Susanti Saragih ◽  
◽  
Santy Setiawan ◽  
Teddy Markus ◽  
Peter Rhian ◽  
...  

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 137-141
Author(s):  
Kimberly Peretti ◽  
Amy Mushahwar ◽  
Jon Knight

Purpose Discusses the long-term cybersecurity challenges businesses face as COVID-19 cases spike and remote work environments need to remain operational, scalable, and capable of flexing with cycles of virus resurgence. Design/Methodology/Approach Discusses the target-rich environment cybercriminals have during this time, and steps businesses should take to secure their environments and raise employee awareness as more devices are being used remotely for company business and more company data is being sent, located, or stored outside the protections of the company infrastructure. Findings The remote work environment is likely to be around for the foreseeable future and businesses need to ensure they are secured for long-term success. Practical implications The authors offer information security and IT teams practical ways businesses can keep their systems secure and functioning: (1) Consider Basic Cyberhygiene; (2) Identify Security Blind Spots; (3) Review and Update Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response Plans; (4) Remain Vigilant for Scams and Phishing Attacks; (5) Be Aware of Applicable Industry-Specific Guidelines; (6) Revisit Risk Exceptions. Originality/Value Practical guidance from experienced data privacy and cybersecurity lawyers in response to COVD-19 for Information Security, IT, and business management teams.


Author(s):  
Simone Donati ◽  
Gianluca Viola ◽  
Ferdinando Toscano ◽  
Salvatore Zappalà

Although a large part of the world’s workforce engaged in mandatory Work from Home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience was not the same for everyone. This study explores whether different groups of employees, based on their work and organizational characteristics (i.e., organizational size, number of days per week working from home, working in team) and personal characteristics (i.e., remote work experience, having children at home), express different beliefs about working remotely, acceptance of the technology necessary to Work from Home, and well-being. A study was conducted with 163 Italian workers who answered an online questionnaire from November 2020 to January 2021. A cluster analysis revealed that work, organizational, and personal variables distinguish five different types of workers. ANOVA statistics showed that remote workers from big companies who worked remotely several days a week, had experience (because they worked remotely before the national lockdowns), and worked in a team, had more positive beliefs about working remotely, higher technology acceptance, and better coping strategies, compared to the other groups of workers. Practical implications to support institutional and organizational decision-makers and HR managers to promote remote work and employee well-being are presented.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Luzuriaga ◽  
Raymond P. Welch ◽  
Madushani Dharmawardana ◽  
Candace Benjamin ◽  
Shaobo Li ◽  
...  

<div><div><div><p>Vaccines have an innate tendency to lose their structural conformation upon environmental and chemical stressors. A loss in conformation reduces the therapeutic ability to prevent the spread of a pathogen. Herein, we report an in-depth study of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and its ability to provide protection for a model viral vector against dena- turing conditions. The immunoassay and spectroscopy analysis together demonstrate enhanced thermal and chemical stability to the conformational structure of the encapsulated viral nanoparticle. The long-term biological activity of this virus-ZIF composite was investigated in animal models to further elucidate the integrity of the encapsulated virus, the bio-safety, and immunogenicity of the overall composite. Additionally, histological analysis found no observable tissue damage in the skin or vital organs in mice, following multiple subcutaneous administrations. This study shows that ZIF-based protein composites are strong candidates for improved preservation of proteinaceous drugs, are biocompatible, and capable of controlling the release and adsorption of drugs in vivo.</p></div></div></div>


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayue Jiao

 Economic vitality is an important indicator of regional competitiveness. The demand for talents and the vitality of enterprises in different regions are obvious to all and have practical significance. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a survey data model and conduct in-depth study on improving regional economic vitality from the perspective of policy.Based on a variety of forecasting methods, this paper analyzes the short-term and long-term impact of economic policies in Northeast China, and finally puts forward the factors that affect the economic vitality of northeast policies. Finally, the paper puts forward the feasibility and targeted suggestions of strengthening regional economic vitality, obtaining long-term development and building a more competitive city in the new era. 


Author(s):  
Arie Nadler

This chapter reviews social psychological research on help giving and helping relations from the 1950s until today. The first section considers the conditions under which people are likely to help others, personality dispositions that characterize helpful individuals, and motivational and attributional antecedents of helpfulness. The second section looks at long-term consequences of help and examines help in the context of enduring and emotionally significant relationships. Research has shown that in the long run help can increase psychological and physical well-being for helpers but discourage self-reliance for recipients. The third section analyzes helping from intra- and intergroup perspectives, considering how its provision can contribute to helpers’ reputations within a group or promote the positive social identity of in-groups relative to out-groups. Help is thus conceptualized as a negotiation between the fundamental psychological needs for belongingness and independence. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Penumadu V. Raveendra ◽  
Yellappa M. Satish

BACKGROUND: Many companies are forced to restructure themselves by right sizing due to unexpected fall in demand for their products and services created by the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID 19 not only affected the health of human beings but also their wealth across the world. Global economic parameters are showing a sign of positive growth with decreased number of COVID 19 cases across the world. Many companies are in a dilemma to rehire their former employees or to hire the new candidates to meet the increased demand. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of study are i) to analyze the key drivers for boomerang hiring and ii) to develop a conceptual process for boomerang hiring. METHODS: An exploratory methodology was designed to identify the key drivers of boomerang hiring by studying the various successful stories of those companies which had rehired their former employees. Various papers were reviewed to develop the process for boomerang hiring. RESULTS: Study showed that knowledge about the culture of the company, cost of hiring, morale booster for the existing employees, and customer retention, are the key drivers for boomerang hiring. This hiring process requires special skills from HR Managers, as this decision will impact long term success of the company. CONCLUSION: The process of boomerang hiring cannot be standardized as each organization culture is different and companies cannot have the same strategy for each candidate as every individual is different. Boomerang hiring will work as the right strategy during pandemic situation as former employees would have built relations with the customers. The customers will be happy to see the former employees who had served them better.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-303
Author(s):  
Marta Mori ◽  
Ronan McDermott ◽  
Saut Sagala ◽  
Yasmina Wulandari

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how culture, including traditions and social structures, can influence resilience and how culturally sensitive relief operations can put affected people and their context at the core of any interventions. Design/methodology/approach A case study of the Mt Sinabung volcano area in Indonesia was undertaken. As part of the case study, an analysis of interventions was conducted, which was complemented by semi-structured interviews with Karo cultural experts and humanitarian organisations. Findings Culture influences the manner in which the Karo people react to volcano eruptions with varying implications for recovery. In addition, relief organisations which understand people’s actions through a cultural lens have better managed to tailor programs with long-term impact, thereby avoiding aid dependency. Practical implications Practical examples of disaster management activities that adequately account for the beneficiaries’ way of living prior to the eruptions are provided. Aid actors are provided with guidance concerning how to better tailor their activities in line with a cultural lens. Originality/value The study provides empirical grounding for claims concerning the role of culture in planning interventions in Indonesia and other similar contexts.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura W van Buul ◽  
Jenny T van der Steen ◽  
Sarah MMM Doncker ◽  
Wilco P Achterberg ◽  
François G Schellevis ◽  
...  

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