EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
ISSN: 2750-8587
VOLUME04 ISSUE12
87
RELATIONSHIP OF REMOTE WORK BETWEEN PRODUCTIVITY AND EMPLOYEE WELL-
BEING IN TECH INDUSTRY
Umarkhon Buzrukkhujaev
Target International school, Uzbekistan
AB O U T ART I CL E
Key words:
Remote work, prioritize, tech
companies, well-being, productivity, workers,
isolation, flexible, engage, communication, job
satisfaction, stress.
Received:
01.12.2024
Accepted
: 05.12.2024
Published
: 10.12.2024
Abstract:
This article explores the impact of
remote work on productivity and workers' well-
being. Despite, that remote work and these results
are interconnected, the bond is rarely analyzed,
especially in terms of the long-lasting
consequences of remote work on employees in the
tech industry. This study analyzes the relationship
between productivity and worker welfare and
survey data from tech employees across diverse
organizations in the tech sector. Research reveals
that remote work enhances productivity about,
and most of the employees said that their anxiety
or stress levels decreased. While some surveys
demonstrated that this style has a negative effect.
In conclusion, these results suggested that tech
companies have to adopt to balanced remote work
that prioritize employees well-being while
maintaining productivity.
INTRODUCTION
The role of remote work in the tech sector has been a widely discussed topic around the world. Over
the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to monumental changes in tech companies and their
business models. However, the pandemic was not just the case inasmuch as ,this has been rising since
before the pandemic, as this figure was 55% in 2016, and 65% in 2017, so it's obvious that remote
working was popular in tech long before. Basically, working remotely means being able to engage in
tasks and processes outside of the physical office and they use appropriate means of technology to
connect with one another. An employee can perform his/her duties at home, in a co-working space or
in many other places that are remote.
VOLUME04 ISSUE12
https://doi.org/10.55640/eijmrms-04-12-16
Pages: 87-92
EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
ISSN: 2750-8587
VOLUME04 ISSUE12
88
Remote work and productivity
Productivity is a measure of performance, whether economic or business, that indicates how efficiently
a workforce, company, industry achieves their long and short term goals while maintaining high-quality
results in company’s reputation and success. While traditional productivity measures f
ocus on hours
worked and tasks completed, in tech companies, productivity often emphasizes cutting-edge
innovations, employee performance metrics (KPIs), meeting project deadlines, and ensuring customer
satisfaction (CSAT). Furthermore, productivity in tech organizations is mainly affected by major factors
such as teamwork, adapting to modern means of technology and ways of working, and ensuring that
resources maximally contribute to productivity.
Advantages and disadvantages of remote work on productivity
As research reveals that being a remote worker offers a variety of unique advantages. On the other hand,
alongside its benefits, it brings some downsides too when it comes to productivity.
The advantages of remote work on productivity: Remote working models contribute to striking the
balance between work and family life. Remote employees can spend most of their time with their
families, which leads to higher employee satisfaction. At the same time, the fact that there are flexible
hours that prevent employees from working at certain hours enables workers to complete their work
at the desired hours. This flexibility improves productivity and strengthens the relationship between
employee and employer. According to research by State and Work Productivity Report, 65% of full-time
employees believe that working remotely would increase productivity, and their bosses agree. In fact,
two-thirds of managers who were surveyed reported an increase in overall productivity from their
remote employees. Similarly, it is widely accepted that a happy worker will produce 12% more work
than an unhappy or disengaged one.
The advantages of remote work on productivity: Organizations of all sizes aspire to maintain their
profits and, at the same time, try to minimize costs as much as possible so that they can maintain job
satisfaction. In the case of employers, the major benefit is a significant reduction in real estate costs. In
other words, with a fully remote team, businesses can save money on things like furniture or rent.
According to FlexJobs, employers can save $22,000 per remote worker each year, even with a partially
remote team.
The disadvantages of remote work on productivity: On the contrary, there are also disadvantages
regarding productivity in remote work. These are mainly due to the fact that employers do not have
EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
ISSN: 2750-8587
VOLUME04 ISSUE12
89
enough resources to underpin teleworking systems effectively. Even when a company allocates the
small amount of its company's resources that suggests remote work conditions, it is believed that these
expendit
ures could negatively affect the company’s overall structure. Additionally, increasing
productivity in remote working models requires much more energy and effort, making it a complex,
resource-intensive process.
The disadvantages of remote work on productivity: Although remote working has positive sides such
as flexible working hours, it can cause many various anonymities in work and family life. For instance,
there might be situations where the hours allocated for work and family do not overlap with each other.
In this case, behavior causes conflicts based on time and tension. Moreover, the weakness in the
communication negatively affects teamwork and employee interactions, causing to feel isolation and
loneliness.
Remote Work and Employee Well-Being
Well-being for the employee in a technology organization involves the total condition of the physical,
mental, and emotional health of the employees in their workplace. It also shows different elements
which add value and satisfaction in their workplace performance, engagement, and satisfaction. The
pressure to perform would make well-being essential especially in fast-paced and competitive
environments of the technology industry, where assignments may be tough and long hours could lead
to great stress management and more importantly, working in remote or hybrid work cultures. In order
to increase productivity and employee satisfaction, companies need to give priority to employee well
being and there are indeed challenges that come along.
Advantages and Disadvantages of remote work on well-being
After defining employee well-being in the context of tech companies, it is crucial to explore how remote
working models influence this concept.
The advantage of remote work on well-being: As mentioned before, remote work is doing certain tasks
outside the traditional company environments and doing it at desired times. Remotely working
employees can start their day early and finish their assignments earlier compared to in the office.
According to the report by the "Royal Society for Public Health” in the UK, it was revealed that 55% of
the participants felt more stressed as a result of their commute. Furthermore, 32% said that working
from home reduced their anxiety and/or stress levels, and 25% stated they noticed improved mental
and/or physical health, according to a survey by GitHub.
EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
ISSN: 2750-8587
VOLUME04 ISSUE12
90
The advantages of remote work on well-being: Working remotely allows workers to customize their
own working environment to make it more comfortable and convenient. This may include furniture,
preferred lighting, and a quiet environment free from distractions. Additionally, in this model
employees are free from noise pollution, unnecessary conversations with colleagues, or even the
occasional shouting of bosses. Controlling his or her work environment causes higher job satisfaction
and reduced stress levels.
The disadvantages of remote work on well-being: One of the significant downsides of remote work is
the potential for social isolation. The lack of face-to-face interactions with colleagues and managers
makes it difficult for remote employees to engage. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and
disconnection. 20% of remote workers said that they feel loneliness and disconnection according to a
report by Buffer. This negative development can influence critically, leading to deep depression or
stress.
The disadvantages of remote work on well-being: This flexibility of remote work can further cause
workers to overwork. In this case, most remote employees will feel the need to be always available or
available most of the time. This forces employees to work longer hours inasmuch as a more comfortable
environment. As reported by Travel Perk, 38% of employees have experienced burnout from remote
working conditions. Furthermore, 86% of employees working from home have faced extreme
exhaustion. Studies found that overwork makes stress levels much worse in the workplaces of such
employees and increasingly has a further negative impact on their mental health.
Possible Solutions
To maximize the benefits of remote work while mitigating its downsides in order to maintain employee
satisfaction and productivity, employers should address these concerns.
1. To tackle isolation, companies should provide resources such as employee assistance programs,
counseling services, and mental health awareness campaigns to support team members’ emotional
well-being. Or they can simply organize virtual social events and regular check-ins to foster a sense of
community among the workers.
2. Employers can offer their workers flexible schedules and encourage regular breaks, intervals, or even
vacations. Moreover, they should prevent employees from working beyond working hours by setting
working hours and boundaries. Furthermore, they have to supply important tools for workers, such as
IT support and reliable technology so that employee satisfaction increases.
EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
ISSN: 2750-8587
VOLUME04 ISSUE12
91
Balancing Productivity and Well-Being
Nowadays, in many companies especially in tech companies employee well-being has been ignored and
more profit-oriented, leading to burnout and stress. When people are exhausted physically, mentally,
and emotionally, they are not able to focus on meaningful tasks or contribute to their work. On the other
hand, leaders who prioritize employee health can create energy-inspired workplaces that keep
employees motivated and ultimately enhance productivity. For example, there are some examples of
companies that prioritized employee welfare: 1. Salesforce, 2. Microsoft, 3. Airbnb, 4. Patagonia, 5.
Zappos. In fact, all of these companies have seen a significant increase in productivity of almost 25%
and a reduction in employee stress levels of about 50%.
CONCLUSION
Remote work has radically changed the art of productivity and the welfare of employees in the case of
technology companies. It comes with the disadvantages of both productivity and employee health, such
as being isolated, experiencing burnout, and having limited resources. Nonetheless, the employees are
benefitting from flexibility as well as less stress and more satisfaction. In order for both employees and
businesses to thrive financially over time, it calls for a balanced approach on overall productivity and
the level of employee well-being. The combination of appropriate practices and culture of work will
contribute to the creation of a context that is conducive to innovation processes and for the satisfaction
of employees. Remote work is a situation tha
t isn’t going away, so the tech sector should implement
new tactics in executing their strategies to suit the growing expectations in the local employment
market.
REFERENCE
1.
Bal, Y. and Nazlı Ece Bulgur. (2023). Remote Work: A Paradigm Shift in the
Modern Workplace and
Its
Impact
on
the
Workforce.
ResearchGate.
Available
from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375111616_Remote_Work_A_Paradigm_Shift_in_the_
Modern_Workplace_and_Its_Impact_on_the_Workforce.
2.
Caroline. (2024). What are the impacts of remote working to employee wellbeing? Zensai. Available
from https://zensai.com/articles/benefits-of-remote-working-to-employee-wellbeing/.
3.
Concept Admin. (2024). Wellbeing in Tech: Challenges & Solutions. Concept - Concept. Available
from https://www.concept-it.com/wellbeing-in-tech-challenges-solutions/.
4.
4, Deutscher, A. (2024). Council Post: The Undeniable Link Between Well-Being And Productivity.
Forbes,
12
August.
Available
from
EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES
ISSN: 2750-8587
VOLUME04 ISSUE12
92
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2023/08/22/the-undeniable-link-
between-well-being-and-productivity/.
5.
Elliott, B. (2023). Have These 5 Companies Mastered Employee Wellbeing? | Neolé. Neolé Inc.
Available from https://www.neole.ca/have-these-five-companies-mastered-employee-wellbeing/.
6.
Gass, M. (2020). Transforming the remote work experience : bring the in-office experiences to
remote work using Microsoft Teams. United States: Melanie Gass.
7.
Martin, L. (2020). How to Measure Employee Productivity in the IT Industry. Time Doctor Blog.
Available from https://www.timedoctor.com/blog/measure-employee-productivity-it-industry/.
8.
Neeley, T. (2021). Remote Work Revolution. S.L.: Harperbusiness.
9.
Remote Year. (2024). What is Remote Work? remoteyear.com. Available from
https://www.remoteyear.com/blog/what-is-remote-work.
10.
The Impact of Remote Working on Mental Health: Pros and Cons | Horton International. (2024).
Horton International. Available from https://hortoninternational.com/the-impact-of-remote-
working-on-mental-health-pros-and-cons/.
