Workplace Flexibility And Working From Home During Covid 19 By The Example Of A Financial Technology Company

Seminar paper from the year 2021 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 7.4, University of Amsterdam, course: Strategic Communication in Organizations, language: English, abstract: How has workplace flexibility during the Covid-19 pandemic affected everyday working life and employee interrelations? Through the use of qualitative semi-structured interviews, this paper aims to analyze and answer the effect of work-from-home on workplace flexibility, and whether the Covid-19 pandemic plays a role in this. Moreover, the paper aims to understand variables such as autonomy within the workplace, colleague dynamics, and identification with the organization. “I like having the choice to [work from home], but I prefer the office.” Although this quotation portrays employees as viewing workplace flexibility in a positive way, this study has found that this is not always the case. Indeed, at the beginning of the Coronavirus-19 pandemic, the world came to a standstill, and humans experienced lockdowns and restrictions globally. This also included employees of organizations worldwide who were legally required to work from home (WFH) to help minimize the risk of infection between coworkers and in their home-life. With employees encouraged to WFH, their new work modes changed, from going to the office daily to working from home through various computer-mediated communication (CMC) resources, with Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, to name a few. This increase in work-from-home during the pandemic has become the new norm around the world. With the introduction of CMC and an increase in workplace flexibility, such factors could influence how an employee feels about working from home, their identification with the company, their motivation, and whether this has an impact on their overall work performance. Numerous academic papers studying the use of workplace flexibility in different workplace settings have been analyzed to understand whether tensions can arise through this method. In the current study, workplace flexibility is defined as the ability and possibility to decide where, when and how one works and encompasses how, as an employee, you are given the opportunity to decide on the time, location and task features of your work in order to create a balance between work- and home-life.

With the introduction of policies to combat COVID-19, far greater numbers of employees across the globe—including those with limited job autonomy—have moved to undertake their entire job at home. Although challenging in the current climate, embracing these flexible modes of work such as working at home, including relevant investment in technology to enable this, will not only deliver potential organizational benefits but also increase the adaptability of the labor market in the short and longer terms. Although perhaps not the central concern of many in the current climate, “good” home-based work is achievable and perhaps even a solution to the current work-based dilemma created by COVID-19 and should be a common goal for individuals, organizations, and society. Research also has shifted to focus on the routines of workers, organizational performance, and well-being of companies and their employees along with reflections on the ways in which these developments may influence and alter the nature of paid work into the post-COVID-19 era. The Handbook of Research on Remote Work and Worker Well-Being in the Post-COVID-19 Era focuses on the rapid expansion of remote working in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts it has had on both employees and businesses. The content of the book progresses understanding and raises awareness of the benefits and challenges faced by large-scale movements to remote working, considering the wide array of different ways in which the large-scale movement to remote working is impacting working lives and the economy. This book covers how different fields of work are responding and implementing remote work along with providing a presentation of how work occurs in digital spaces and the impacts on different topics such as gender dynamics and virtual togetherness. It is an ideal reference book for HR professionals, business managers, executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, students, practitioners, academicians, and business professionals interested in the latest research on remote working and its impacts.

The future is here. How is your organization responding? Amid the turbulence of a global pandemic, worldwide social justice movements, and accelerated digital transformation, one thing is clear—work will no longer be the same. Employees now expect a flexible, inclusive workplace and a deeper connection to their employer. Organizations must commit to doing good for their people and communities. What should you and your company be doing to adapt? The Future of Work: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review will provide you with today's most essential thinking about creating a work-from-anywhere organization, harnessing AI as part of your team, creating an inclusive culture, and building a purpose-driven organization. Business is changing. Will you adapt or be left behind? Get up to speed and deepen your understanding of the topics that are shaping your company's future with the Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review series. Featuring HBR's smartest thinking on fast-moving issues—blockchain, cybersecurity, AI, and more—each book provides the foundational introduction and practical case studies your organization needs to compete today and collects the best research, interviews, and analysis to get it ready for tomorrow. You can't afford to ignore how these issues will transform the landscape of business and society. The Insights You Need series will help you grasp these critical ideas—and prepare you and your company for the future.

This open access book offers a multidisciplinary and comprehensive perspective regarding the immediate and long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on coworking spaces in the European Region. The current pandemic has imposed several effects on work and spaces for work. Some are immediate effects and will last for a short time (such as the closing down of the space), some will last longer (namely, the reorganisation of the space to meet the physical distancing), and some will stay for a long time (remote working and hybrid working). Although the literature on coworking spaces and the effects of the pandemic is growing fast, empirical studies are yet limited. Within this context, this book seeks a twofold aim: (i) to contribute to the fast-growing literature on coworking space and their effects at different scales; (ii) to present a multidisciplinary perspective about the effects of the yet-lasting Corona-pandemic effects on the patterns of remote working and consequently on coworking spaces, as the most diffused form of new working spaces.

The FinTech community is steeped in change and has the potential to pave the way for equal opportunities in the workplace, considering the positive actions that have taken place. There is so much more that can be done but what has been achieved so far needs to be replicated. This book showcases the successes in the industry alongside that which could act as a barrier or escalator. Being the first of its kind, FinTech Women Walk the Talk draws upon the author’s podcasts that feature the insights of more than 150 FinTech experts; more than 100 of which are women. It is a call to action for diversity in the workplace, showcasing the successes and presenting how to overcome the challenges. By demystifying FinTech, and highlighting its potential to drive change, this book explores how to achieve gender parity in the workplace. The FinTech industry is used as acase study and hence of interest to practitioners in finance, technology, FinTech and beyond.

Discover the secret to being productive and successful no matter where you are with this essential guide to remote work. During COVID-19, working from home became the new normal. Now, both employers and employees find that the remote work they were forced to adjust to may be, well, better—financially, sustainably, and even in terms of overall morale and productivity. But working from home is not without its challenges. It can be difficult to eliminate distractions, strike a solid work/life balance, and maintain social connections that are crucial in the workplace. Whether you’re trying to find and land a job from the comfort of your home, learning to manage a virtual team, or dream of living a digital nomad lifestyle, The Everything Guide to Remote Work has everything you need to be successful. You’ll learn to optimize your own workplace culture, whether it’s in your home office or a constantly changing backdrop. So whether your company continues to work remotely full time or you only have to go to the office a few days a week, you’ll be armed with all the tools you’ll need to make the most out of this new lifestyle.

Does flexible working really provide a better work-life balance? Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, flexible working has become the norm for many workers. This volume offers an original examination of flexible working using data from 30 European countries and drawing on studies conducted in Australia, the US and India. Rather than providing a better work-life balance, the book reveals how flexible working can lead to exploitation, which manifests differently for women and men, such as more care responsibilities or increased working hours. Taking a critical stance, this book investigates the potential risks and benefits of flexible working and provides crucial policy recommendations for overcoming the negative consequences.

Authoritatively and expertly written, the new seventh edition of Bratton and Gold's Human Resource Management builds upon the enduring strengths of this renowned book. Thoroughly updated, topical and accessible, this textbook explores the theory and practice of human resource management and will encourage your students to reflect critically on the realities of the ever-changing world of work. The new edition truly captures the zeitgeist of contemporary human resource management. With coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to business ethics, physical and mental wellbeing, inequality and the rise of the gig-economy and precarious work, students will feel connected to the complex issues that face workers, organisations and wider society. This edition also includes expanded coverage on the ever-palpable effects of globalization and technological change and explores the importance of sustainable practice. Students will gain critical insight into the realities of contemporary HRM, engaging with the various debates and tensions inherent in the employment relationship and understanding the myriad of different theories underpinning human resource management. New to this edition: - New 'Ethical Insight' boxes explore areas of current ethical concern in trends and practice - New 'Digital Spotlight' boxes explore innovations in technology, analytics and AI and the impact on workers and organisations - Topical coverage on job design and the rise of the gig economy and precarious work - A critical discussion of the core themes and debates around human resource management in the post-Covid-19 era, including mental health and wellbeing. - A rich companion website packed with extra resources, including video interviews with HR professionals, work-related films, bonus case studies, links to employment law, and vocab checklists for ESL students make this an ideal text for online or blended learning.

Harmonisation of law, a term that refers to an effort to bring two different legal traditions in harmony with one another, has developed a rather negative connotation over time when mentioned in the context of Shari’ah and common law. Harmonisation began to be looked at as an attempt by one legal system to impose its values on the other. A major reason for that is the lack of understanding of the scope to which these two legal traditions converge. One of the principal findings of this book is that Shari’ah and common law have many more commonalities than differences. As a result, the need for harmonisation between the two might have been exaggerated. The similarities do not need to be harmonised. Rather, they need to be acknowledged and appreciated. If the differences between Shari’ah and common law, which undoubtedly exist as evidenced in this book, are approached from the position of appreciation for commonalities, the ambiance to reconcile the differences would be more conducive to the harmonisation process which would, in that case, be reflective of compromise. This book is intended to help readers better understand Shari’ah and common law and aid harmonization efforts when needed.