A Thematic Analysis of Employee Perceptions of Transition to Remote-Working Conditions During COVID-19.

Dawbarn, Kyra (2020) A Thematic Analysis of Employee Perceptions of Transition to Remote-Working Conditions During COVID-19. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)


Abstract

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many businesses and their staff engaged in remote-work conditions to adhere to the stay-at-home measures and social distancing restrictions. Businesses and employees previously unfamiliar with working remotely were required to implement these changes rapidly. Technology was heavily relied upon to connect individuals and enable remote work across many different professions. This study used a qualitative approach, specifically thematic analysis, to explore the experiences of eight employees transitioning to remote-work during COVID-19. Analysis identified four themes home environment, health, increased workload demands, and social connections. Overall participants had a positive attitude towards remote work, allowing for flexibility and management of personal time, increased family time, and an ability to coordinate household tasks. However, negative aspects included intensification of labour, overtime, a sense of being on-call, an inability to psychologically disconnect from work, decreased social connections and isolation, communication difficulties, and a pressure to perform at work. Results were heavily influenced by COVID-19, and participants reported a sense of uncertainty and having to be both flexible and adaptable in the current climate. A future longitudinal study of participants would provide additional information regarding the impacts of COVID-19 transition to remote-work and determine if participants were able to adjust to remote working conditions as this sense of uncertainty eases with time.


Statistics for USQ ePrint 52259
Statistics for this ePrint Item
Item Type: Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours)
Item Status: Live Archive
Additional Information: Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021)
Supervisors: Tanya Machin
Qualification: Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Date Deposited: 09 Jul 2025 04:45
Last Modified: 09 Jul 2025 04:45
Uncontrolled Keywords: Remote-work; COVID-19; social connections; telepressure; technology
Fields of Research (2008): 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (2020): 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52259

Actions (login required)

View Item Archive Repository Staff Only