Investigating the impact of comfort-zone quality in e-work settings

Abstract

This study analyzes face-to-display workers' environments and investigates how their habits affect both brick-and-mortar and virtual workplaces. A qualitative study with 20 respondents using a photovoice strategy via snowball sampling was employed. The study aims to shed more light on some of the factors associated with the e-workplace environment. All respondents stated that work cannot be done efficiently and effectively without a comfortable workspace. Data demonstrate that the blurring of the distinction between home and office as a workspace has undeniably accelerated recently. Results show that work-anywhere technologies have empowered e-workers to be highly productive. For some, the balance between family and work has been a challenge. Males and females proceed completely differently when setting up home offices. Employees see ICT as an enabler and motivator for productivity; however, self-care is becoming a must when working remotely. For many, this is a new experience that they have to adjust to. The results obtained show similarities between brick-and-mortar and virtual workplaces and indicate that there is a process of "domestication," i.e., of moving selected features of the traditional workplace to the home office.