Remote Working and Employment Relations in the Chemical and Non-Metallic Industry in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between Remote working and Employment Relations in the Chemical and Non-Metallic Industry in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to find out how employees of the Industry stayed connected while on the job in the face of remote working. The study population was the two (2) companies in the Chemical and non-metallic industry in Port Harcourt. A census sampling technique was adopted. The instrument that was used to gather the data was the Interview Guide. The instrument was tested for validity, using the peer review method and reliability was ensured by maintaining consistency of interview questions throughout the research. Data for the study was presented in diagrams and paragraphs and analyzed using the QSR NVivo. Data showed that there is no relationship between the Remote Working and Employment Relations, but showed a relationship between a child node of Remote Working and an outlier (health challenges and other special circumstances). The Chemical and Non-Metallic industry in Port Harcourt did not transit to remote work like most of the industries in the world did in 2019, except in special circumstances that could include health challenges of employees. The result indicated that remote work has not been adopted in the Chemical and Non-Metallic industry but a hybrid work model is introduced gradually and when necessary, which means that employment contract, workplace rules, workplace grievances and disputes settlements did not have the need to change. Since the industry is yet to adopt remote working, but is gradually tilting towards the adoption and utilization of the hybrid work model, it is recommended that organizations in the industry should prepare for the future by drafting a prospective employment contract model, to cover potential organizational changes when the industry goes hybrid or totally remote. Keywords: Remote Working, Employment Relations, Co-working spaces, Hybrid working, Employment Contract, Employment Parties, Government.