EFFECTS OF WORK FROM HOME ON EMPLOYEES DURING COVID – 19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The concept of ‘Work From Home’ (WFH) is hinged on the notion that employees are permitted to perform their job responsibilities from the confines of their homes or any other remote location convenient to the employee. Whilst the WFH existed prior to Covid-19 pandemic, more companies found it reliable for the sustenance of their business as the need for continuous economic activities became apparent despite the restriction of movement caused by the need to limit the spread of the virus. However, the adoption of WFH has thrown further concerns on the need to align the interest of parties to employment contracts particularly in a bid to protect employees from possible adverse effect of continuously working from home. 

This study therefore investigates the general and specific effects of the Work From Home arrangement from the employee perspectives using an empirical methodology. With the use of questionnaires, relevant information were retrieved from 265 respondents in respect of whether the respondent would like WFH to continue and whether the said WFH has so far had an adverse effect on the respondents. The study found that more employees consider WFH convenient and would like it to continue. The study equally confirmed that the productivity of a company is not limited by WFH, but that more employees are experiencing adverse effects as a result of continuous WFH. As recommended by this study, more policy changes would be required to align the interest of the employers with that of the employees.