Basic psychological factors influencing work motivation change during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study investigates how does enforced remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic affect work motivation. It examines employees’ various work motivation experiences, while comparing periods before and during the Covid-19 remote work. As a basis in observing work motivation change the study first examines if the three basic psychological needs for competence, relatedness, autonomy are satisfied. For that purpose, the self-determination theoretical framework (SDT) is deployed and qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews are conducted. The study confirms that work motivation is changing, when the basic psychological needs are not satisfied. Due to the long-lasting social distancing in crisis such as Covid-19 pandemic, all basic psychological needs are found to be negatively affected, but the need for relatedness the most. A lack of need for relatedness is found to significantly affect the employees’ work motivation while working remotely. Further, the various factors to undermine or enhance employee’s work motivation during Covid-19 are discussed. Following is a discussion about organizational perspective and how to mitigate risks of feeling disconnected while working remotely, as well as aspects of what should be considered in the future for better preparedness in similar future crisis.