Organisational Compassion and Employee Engagement in Virtual Work Environments during Covid-19 Lockdown in Uganda and Rwanda

Abstract

Purpose: This study attempted to study the dynamics between organisational compassion and employee engagement during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Uganda and Rwanda when workers were required to work from home and in Virtual work environments Methodology/approach: The study adopted a quantitative research design. Data was collected from a sample of staff in selected institutions of higher learning in Uganda and Rwanda using of an online questionnaire that was distributed both through social media and email correspondence. Findings: The findings indicated that organizational compassion was a significant predictor of the vigour component of employee engagement compared to dedication and absorption while working virtually. Moreover, for selected organisational compassion dimensions of mindfulness and kindness, Supervisor’s kindness towards employees and employees’ mindfulness of self to others were strong predictors of work engagement while working remotely. Originality/value: While organisational compassion and employee engagement have been studied in, in-person settings, the paper attempted to study these concepts in virtual and remote work spaces that had unique complexities. https://www.doi.org/10.53615/2232-5697.10.127-137