Investigating the effects of work from home on worker productivity: a case study of South Africa’s corporate sector during the Covid19 pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge the world has faced since World War Two. The virus has spread to every continent except Antarctica. Cases are rising daily in Africa the Americas, and Europe. Due to the pandemic, the concept of an office space has shifted. During the lockdown period, some organisations in South Arica, were forced to implement working from home as their strategy, in order for them to continue their business operations. This study aimed at acquiring knowledge on whether or not working from home has impacted organisational and individual productivity, and identifying the strategies put in place by organisation managers, in relation to productivity during a world crisis. Working from home offers both benefits and challenges for organisations. These challenges, are factors of which may cause an impact on productivity. Investigating the importance of whether or not working from home affects employee productivity, assists organisations on what to do if there is less productivity, or how to maintain productivity if it is high. Moreover, having an understanding of the effects WFH has on productivity can help improve management function, increase job satisfaction and make employees more productive.