Pandemic’s impact on employees’ motivation towards remote work

Abstract

The subject of this thesis was to study remote work’s effects on employee motivation in a pandemic situation. The main objective was to figure out how different opportunities and desires to work remotely affect employee motivation, engagement and how those can be supported by the employer. Managing remote work and motivation provided a basis for the thesis. The research method of the thesis was quantitive and the author surveyed employees of the commissioning company. No managers were participating in the survey as the study focused on the subordinates' perspective.

The survey brought various, valuable, and comprehensive answers. All of the respondents worked in the same operational area and there had been various changes to their remote working policies due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the respondents and theory, the most valuable sources of motivation in remote work were: atmosphere, including supervisor and colleagues, home-work life flexibility, sense of security, communication, and commitment.

The majority of the respondents felt that their eagerness to work remotely had increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, only half of them were allowed to work remotely according to that desire. In a conclusion from the employees' perspective, remote work isn't a desirable way of working constantly but in moderation, it increases the employees' motivation, engagement and work performance.