IMPACT OF REMOTE WORKING ON EMPLOYEES’ PERFORMANCE IN IT COMPANIES, MADUARI

Abstract

The Information Technology (IT) sector has had its fair share of remote working, which has greatly changed work practice, particularly following the COVID-19 outbreak, as the employees were allowed to conduct job duties beyond the usual office setting, via digital platforms. This paper explores the effects of remote working on the performance of the employees working in IT firms in Madurai, and the main aspects of remote work, including work flexibility, the effectiveness of communication, and technological support have been considered. The descriptive research design was selected and focus was placed on the primary data to be used to gather data on 75 IT employees who are working either remotely or in a hybrid arrangement using a structured questionnaire on the 5-pointer Likert scale. The secondary data was derived through journals, articles and similar publications. The data obtained were analysed with the help of SPSS in percentages, factor analysis and correlation analysis. Factor analysis revealed six key dimensions that affect remote working and employee performance, which include Work Flexibility, Technological Support, Communication and Collaboration, Work Environment at Home, Organizational Support, and Employee Performance. A high factor structure was shown by these factors explaining 68.47% of the total variance. Correlation analysis showed that flexibility in work, effective communication, and the support of technology is positively and significantly related to the productivity and efficiency of employees. Communication effectiveness was the most strongly related to performance outcomes, which illustrates the importance of remote working in success. The results indicate that telecommuting has the potential of improving the performance of the employees when it is accompanied by proper communication, flexible work arrangements, and proper technological infrastructure. The research finds that the IT firms in Madurai can enhance the productivity and efficiency of its employees through enhanced remote work policies, constant organizational support and improved work life balance among the employees.