The impact of the unplanned transition to remote work and how to support managers in this transition

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, has immensely accelerated the implementation of remote work in organizations. The purpose of this Action Research study was to understand the impact of the unplanned transition to remote work and provide managers with support to enable their teams to be successful in a remote environment at an administrative unit within a small, private research university in the Northeast. The Cycle 1 data collection consisted of focus groups, surveys, and interviews to understand the impact of the unplanned transition to remote work on employees. The Cycle 2 action step activities were developed and implemented to provide managers with support in the remote work environment. Findings included employees experienced both benefits and challenges in the remote work environment, managers had an impact on the employee experience within the remote work environment, and that the provision of support to managers through interactive training sessions was highly valued. Managers found actionable strategies and the opportunity to reflect and collaborate with other managers to be the most beneficial. Implications for the organization include develop ongoing support for managers and clarify expectations for employees by enacting formal policies surrounding remote work.--Author's abstract