Purpose

Through the lens of Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study explores how remote working inhibits employee engagement. The authors offer a fresh perspective on the most salient work- and nonwork-related risk factors that make remote working particularly challenging in the context of Covid-19.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data from semi-structured interviews with 32 employees working from home during the Covid-19 lockdown. Based on the interpretivist philosophical approach, the authors offer new insights into how employees can optimize work- and nonwork-related experiences when working remotely.

Findings

The authors show that the sudden transition from in-person to online modes of working during the pandemic brought about work intensification, online presenteeism, employment insecurity and poor adaptation to new ways of working from home. These stress factors are capable of depleting vital social and personal resources, thereby impacting negatively on employee engagement levels.

Practical implications

Employers, leaders and human resource teams should be more thoughtful about the risks and challenges employees face when working from home. They must ensure employees are properly equipped with the relevant resources and support to perform their jobs more effectively.

Originality/value

While previous research has focused on the benefits of remote working, the current study explores how it might be detrimental for employee engagement during a pandemic. The study provides new evidence on the most salient risks and challenges faced by remote workers, and how the unique Covid-19 context has made them more pronounced.

中文翻译：

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远程工作和员工敬业度：大流行期间英国工人的定性研究

目的

通过资源保护 (COR) 理论的视角，本研究探讨了远程工作如何抑制员工敬业度。作者对最显着的工作和非工作相关风险因素提供了新的视角，这些因素使远程工作在 Covid-19 的背景下特别具有挑战性。

设计/方法/方法

作者使用了对 Covid-19 锁定期间在家工作的 32 名员工进行半结构化访谈的数据。基于解释主义哲学方法，作者提供了有关员工如何在远程工作时优化工作和非工作相关体验的新见解。

发现

作者表明，大流行期间从面对面工作到在线工作模式的突然转变带来了工作密集化、在线出勤、就业不安全以及对新的在家工作方式的适应能力差。这些压力因素能够消耗重要的社会和个人资源，从而对员工敬业度水平产生负面影响。

实际影响

雇主、领导者和人力资源团队应该更加考虑员工在家工作时面临的风险和挑战。他们必须确保员工适当配备相关资源和支持，以更有效地完成工作。

原创性/价值

虽然之前的研究侧重于远程工作的好处，但当前的研究探讨了在大流行期间它可能如何对员工的敬业度造成不利影响。该研究为远程工作者面临的最突出的风险和挑战以及独特的 Covid-19 环境如何使它们更加突出提供了新的证据。