The primary objective of this study was to assess employee performance among individuals working remotely, considering the mediating role of digital literacy and the moderating influence of technostress within public universities in Malaysia. A structured questionnaire was used to gather 320 responses from university lecturers. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique through smartPLS-4. The findings indicate that work-from-home (WFH) does not exhibit a direct significant relationship with employee performance, except for an indirect relationship mediated by digital literacy. Conversely, technostress significantly and negatively moderated the relationship between digital literacy and employee performance. Moreover, technostress moderated the indirect relationship between WFH and employee performance through digital literacy. Consequently, digital literacy is essential for the successful implementation of effective work-from-home strategies that enhance employee performance and well-being at work. University management should prioritize enhancing digital literacy before implementing remote work strategies. Additionally, management should address employee technostress levels, as it can influence both digital literacy and employee performance. Future research should explore these findings in other service sectors, such as information technology and customer services.

This study explored how the professional identity of psychologists was shaped during the crisis period characterised by the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated digitalisation, and the war in Ukraine. Drawing on an existential-dialectical framework, the research examined how psychologists navigated practical contradictions and existential tensions involving meaning, purpose, and professional significance during widespread disruption. The qualitative study included 45 experienced Latvian psychologists (M=47.13years, 87% women) who began practising before the pandemic. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted in October-November 2022. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns of professional identity transformation, with particular attention to dialectical tensions and existential challenges. Five themes emerged: (1) reconciling traditional practices with crisis-driven changes, where remote work created boundary challenges while proving effective; (2) balancing emotional vulnerability and professional responsibility, as rising demand intensified both strain and professional value; (3) navigating isolation and collaboration through enhanced supervision and peer support; (4) evolving professional practices through creativity and functional adaptations; and (5) experiencing professional growth through strengthened commitment despite initial uncertainty. The findings demonstrate that professional identity transformation during the crisis period involves navigating universal dialectical tensions while addressing existential challenges of meaning and purpose. Psychologists adaptively integrated reflective practices, digital competencies, and self-care strategies. The study contributes to professional identity literature by demonstrating that the crisis period serve as catalysts for comprehensive identity transformation, fostering more adaptive, reflective, and resilient professional identities through resolving both practical contradictions and existential uncertainties.

Failure of neutralization: How digital job demands shape cyberslacking and job performance in telework.

A taste of the commute-free life: Post Covid-19 remote work expectations, travel time and commute modes

Modeling interdependent choices of remote working centers and transportation with attitudes through latent variables

ABSTRACT This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Indian women professionals engaged in workplace flexibility arrangements and examines how such arrangements influence career continuity. Despite the rapid adoption of hybrid and remote work models across India, limited qualitative evidence exists regarding their long-term impact on women’s professional growth. Using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 25 women professionals across IT, banking, education, and healthcare sectors, this study identifies five key themes: flexibility as empowerment, flexibility as hidden career penalty, managerial trust and support, intensified dual burden, and negotiated career aspirations. The findings reveal that flexibility enhances workforce participation and retention; however, structural biases, performance visibility norms, and socio-cultural expectations continue to shape advancement opportunities. The study contributes context-specific insights to gender and HRM literature in India and provides managerial recommendations for designing equitable and career-sustaining flexible work systems. Keywords: Workplace Flexibility, Women Professionals, Career Continuity, Phenomenology, Gendered Organizations, India.

Cellular lipid heterogeneity serves as a critical determinant of cell phenotypes and metabolic states, orchestrating diverse biological processes from signal transduction to stress responses. Thus, high-spatial-resolution mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is crucial for resolving single-cell lipid heterogeneity. Here, we present a rapidly deployable, easily installed single-mode fiber image relay MSI platform with submicrometer spatial resolution (∼800 nm) at a remote working distance (≥25 mm). With the integrated advantages of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we successfully visualized numerous lipid distributions in mouse brains and individual HeLa and HepG2 cells. Using this platform, we further performed cell-phenotype-specific lipid profiling and applied it to quantify dose- and time-dependent lipid remodeling during emodin-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. The results reveal that emodin elicits progressive, network-mediated metabolic reprogramming that, unlike the acute collapse observed under UV irradiation, suppresses structural phospholipids while mobilizing energy reserves. Comparative analyses across cell types and multiple drugs revealed mechanism-dependent lipid fingerprints and pronounced single-cell heterogeneity. In summary, these results establish an accessible route to the MSI shift in lipid metabolism linked with apoptosis at single-cell resolution.

ABSTRACT We present a conceptual proposal of leadership on faculty engagement in a hybrid environment as higher education institutions (HEI) adjust to the post-pandemic remote working option. Due to the hierarchical organisational structure of HEIs and the long-term employment with tenure, identifying leadership behaviours attenuate actions that further push faculty towards their autonomous inclination, which results in greater disengagement with the institution. We provide (1) an analysis of ways in which recognised forms of leadership further exacerbate faculty disengagement in a remote environment and present (2) a conceptual framework of emerging forms of leadership resulting from the remote environment.

Abstract The rapid shift to remote work has transformed organizational operations across the globe, driven by continuous technological advancements and accelerated by global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations increasingly rely on digital platforms, cloud services, and remote access tools to maintain productivity and business continuity. While this transition has enabled greater flexibility and operational efficiency, it has also fundamentally changed the way organizations manage and secure their information systems. Despite its advantages, remote work has introduced significant cyber security challenges. The dissolution of traditional security perimeters has increased organizational exposure to cyber threats, including data breaches, phishing attacks, insecure home networks, and vulnerable endpoints. Employees accessing corporate resources from diverse locations and personal devices have expanded the attack surface, making organizations more susceptible to cybercriminal activities. This paper examines the key cyber security challenges associated with remote work environments and analyzes their impact on organizational security and operations. It also discusses effective strategies and best practices to mitigate these risks, emphasizing the role of robust security frameworks, employee awareness programs, and emerging technologies. The study highlights the need for adaptive and proactive cyber security measures to safeguard remote work ecosystems in an evolving threat landscape.

Purpose Contemporary organizations face a growing need for innovation while work is becoming increasingly digitalized. In such a context, employees’ innovative work behaviour (IWB) is crucial. However, little attention has been given to whether and how human resource management (HRM) practices can sustain IWB in remote work. Thus, this study aims to explore the relationship between performance management (PM) practices and employees’ IWB when job is performed remotely. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on signalling perspective of HRM, this study applies regression analysis on data collected through an online questionnaire administered to a sample of 647 Italian employees testing the moderating role of remote work in the relationship between PM and IWB. Findings The findings show that result- and new-competence-based appraisal promote IWB, regardless of the extent to which work is performed remotely. In contrast, remote work nullifies the role of employee involvement in the goal setting process, as well as the influence of compensation-oriented PM and developmental performance management. Continuous feedback emerges as the key PM practice sustaining IWB among remote employees. Research limitations/implications This study shows that remote work represents a key boundary condition in the relationship between PM and IWB. More specifically, the findings indicate that only certain PM practices − such as result- and competence-based appraisal and continuous feedback sustain IWB when work is extensively performed remotely. However, the reliance on a convenience sample of Italian employees limits the generalizability of the findings, indicating the need for cross-national and longitudinal studies to examine these relationships across different remote and hybrid work settings. Practical implications The findings suggest that organizations seeking to foster employees’ IWB should redesign PM systems by prioritizing results and competence development over task-based control. In remote work contexts, continuous feedback appears particularly critical. In addition, compensation-oriented PM practices do not inhibit IWB, whereas involvement of employees in goal setting becomes non-significant. Social implications This study suggests that some PM practices, particularly continuous feedback, can contribute to mitigate drawbacks of remote work, like for instance social isolation and work-related stress, thus supporting more sustainable and inclusive forms of work. Originality/value This study advances the literature on PM and IWB by identifying remote work as a key boundary condition. It also extends existing research on remote work by showing that practices known to support remote workers’ well-being − such as result-based appraisal, competence-based appraisal and continuous feedback − may likewise foster IWB, basically generating a signalling effect that encourages employees to be proactive and to generate new ideas and ways of working. In doing so, this study also provides guidelines to companies to redesign their PM systems.

Purpose This study is designed to investigate how an error management climate (EMC) fosters employees’ radical creativity through distinct motivational mechanisms and how remote work conditions alter these effects. Design/methodology/approach Using three-wave, time-lagged survey data collected from employees in China’s Yangtze River Delta region, we tested a moderated mediation model in which EMC influences radical creativity via autonomous and controlled motivation, contingent on the extent of remote work. Findings EMC exerts its influence on employees’ radical creativity indirectly through two distinct motivational pathways and remote work shifts how EMC operates. Specifically, at lower levels of remote work, EMC enhances radical creativity primarily by strengthening autonomous motivation, while at higher levels of remote work, EMC promotes radical creativity by reducing controlled motivation. Practical implications Organizations should cultivate EMC while reinforcing the motivational meaning of error-based learning for breakthrough ideas. Remote work requires additional scaffolding – structured virtual learning routines, developmental feedback and recognition systems – to support employees’ internalization of error-positive climate. Originality/value This study disentangles autonomous and controlled motivation as dual mechanisms through which an EMC shapes radical creativity and reveals how remote work reconfigures these processes. It advances understanding of how organizational climates foster breakthrough ideas within contemporary hybrid work arrangement.

Purpose This study aims to examine how teleworkers influence Brazil's economic structure. It shifts the focus from organizational adaptation to the systemic effects on employment, income, and sectoral demand, especially in knowledge-intensive services. Design/methodology/approach The study uses input–output (I–O) analysis with 2021 data, combining national accounts with microdata from household surveys (PNAD-C and POF). The study estimates type II multipliers disaggregated by demographics and uses the hypothetical extraction method to simulate the removal of teleworkers' labor supply and consumption from the economy. Findings The results reveal a structural asymmetry: the Brazilian economy is more sensitive to the withdrawal of teleworkers' consumption than to the withdrawal of their labor supply. Although professional services generate strong employment and income multipliers, technology-driven sectors like systems development create limited indirect jobs. Consequently, teleworkers' systemic weight is predominantly driven by their high-income consumption patterns rather than their role in production chains. Originality/value The paper offers a novel dual perspective, viewing teleworkers as both labor inputs and structural vectors of final demand. Through an empirical analysis, it demonstrates how a concentrated workforce alters sectoral dynamics through consumption patterns, thereby mirroring labor market inequalities within the I–O framework.

BackgroundHealth care apps are widely used to support weight loss and lifestyle modification. Many of these apps offer tailored feedback on dietary intake and nutritional behavior. However, most lack personalized features that promote physical activity (PA), which is important for weight management, metabolic health, and chronic disease prevention. To develop future personalized PA promotion functions, it is essential to understand users’ perceptions of PA.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore health care app users’ perception of PA, including perceived motivators and barriers.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted using focus group interviews with health care app users. Participants were recruited regardless of age, sex, or body mass index. A thematic analysis was conducted using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. Question 1 (“How do you perceive the importance of physical activity?”) was analyzed inductively, whereas questions 2 (“What are the motivating factors for engaging in physical activity?”) and 3 (“What are the barriers to engaging in physical activity?”) were analyzed deductively based on the social ecological model.ResultsEleven participants were interviewed and were unfamiliar with the term “physical activity” but recognized the importance of movement and reducing sedentary behavior. The identified motivators included improvements in mood; changes in physical appearance; support from family; alignment with personal routines and conditions (eg, goal setting, feedback, reminders, and praise); and tailoring to physical condition, daily schedules, and weather. The reported barriers included time restrictions due to work, fatigue, weather, remote work, and social pressure in workplace settings.ConclusionsThis study provides user-informed insights that can inform the design of personalized approaches better aligned with daily routines, competing demands, and situational barriers. Future work should evaluate how incorporating such user perspectives into personalized support strategies affects engagement and PA.

The global shift towards remote work, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has precipitated a significant demographic and economic transformation in rural areas, giving rise to the "Zoom Town" phenomenon. This narrative review synthesizes existing literature to examine the multifaceted impacts of this remote work-driven migration on rural economies. We explore four principal thematic areas: the reshaping of rural housing markets, the dual nature of rural gentrification, the critical role of digital infrastructure, and the emerging policy imperatives for sustainable rural development. The analysis reveals a complex dynamic where an influx of high-earning remote professionals stimulates local economies but simultaneously drives up housing costs, potentially displacing long-term residents and straining public services. Research indicates that while the "Zoom Town" phenomenon presents a unique opportunity for rural revitalization, it also introduces significant socio-economic challenges that mirror urban issues, including affordability crises and growing inequality. The availability and quality of digital infrastructure have emerged as the primary determinant of a community's ability to attract and retain this new demographic. Consequently, a critical need exists for proactive and integrated policy responses that balance economic growth with social equity. This review concludes by highlighting the necessity for policies focused on affordable housing, strategic infrastructure investment, and inclusive community planning to ensure that the transition from a potential "ghost town" to a thriving "Zoom Town" is both sustainable and equitable for all residents. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to track the long-term socio-economic consequences and the effectiveness of various policy interventions in these evolving rural landscapes.

Exploring Cyber Hygiene for IT Professionals: Behavioral Insights from Remote and Hybrid Work Environments

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations shifted to remote work. Additionally, there was an increase in experiences of racism toward Asian Americans and a continuation of racism toward other marginalized groups. This research explores the relationship between remote work, discrimination, and intra-minority solidarity. In Study 1, Asian Americans who worked remotely during the pandemic reported fewer racial discrimination experiences than those who worked in person. Study 2 demonstrated that both Asian and Black Americans who worked hybrid reported less interpersonal conflict and stress but more positive affect and control when they worked remotely than when in the office. Studies 3-5 examined how Asian Americans make meaning out of these pandemic circumstances. In these studies, learning about Asian Americans’ discrimination experiences during the pandemic promoted attitudes and policy preferences for reducing discrimination for all marginalized groups. We discuss the psychological implications of remote work and other equity-enhancing policies for intra-minority solidarity.

This study investigates how pandemic-induced digitalisation, understood as the transition to remote work combined with the enforced use of digital tools and the reconfiguration of tasks and digital skills at the job level, has affected job security and job quality in Portugal. In 2022, a nationwide survey was administered to employees in companies registered in the country, yielding 2001 valid responses through a stratified random sampling strategy that ensured representation across different firm sizes. Structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the relationships between digitalisation (independent construct) and perceived job quality and job security (dependent constructs), while controlling for demographic, organisational, and work-regime characteristics. Digitalisation had a significant positive effect on perceived job quality but no systematic effect on perceived job security. The results also revealed more positive perceptions of job security among women, employees in smaller firms, and those working on-site, whereas directors and workers in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area reported greater negative effects. These findings underscore the importance of contextual factors in shaping how workers experience digitalisation and provide evidence to inform public policies aimed at promoting job security and job quality in a post-COVID-19 labour market.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games posed a unique challenge due to their scale, associated risks and the need for robust healthcare preparedness. This review outlines the forecasting and anticipatory measures taken by the Etablissement français du sang (EFS) to ensure a resilient blood supply chain throughout the event. A steering committee was formed 2 years in advance to coordinate risk assessments, operational planning and institutional collaboration. The EFS aimed to maintain daily reserves of 90,000 red blood cell (RBC) units, anticipating a 25% shortfall in the Île-de-France region, which was to be balanced by increased contributions from other regions. To support operations, logistical strategies involved the prepositioning of supplies, securing transport routes and reinforcing both trauma centres and Olympic venues. Staffing was also adapted, with changes to work schedules, an extended summer leave period and provisions for remote work at EFS headquarters. In anticipation of seasonal infectious risks, nucleic acid testing (NAT) was implemented for West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue (DENV) in high-risk areas. Cybersecurity measures were also reinforced through strengthened information technology infrastructure and integration with the national cyber crisis response system. These proactive measures proved effective: blood stocks remained stable, only a few arboviral infections were detected and no major cyber incidents occurred. The Paris 2024 experience emphasizes the importance of early, coordinated and cross-sectoral planning in safeguarding national blood supplies during mass events. The centralized structure of the EFS, along with its integration into public health systems and past experience with major events, enabled uninterrupted and resilient service delivery.

Purpose Effective leadership in digitalized contexts requires managers to increasingly rely on digital communication tools, such as video technology, in leading remote workers. However, existing research provides a limited understanding of the complex relationship between leaders and video technology. To address this gap, this study aims to explore how top managers lead remote work through the lens of technological affordances. Design/methodology/approach Constructivist grounded theory is applied to understand how top managers use video technology in e-leadership from an affordance perspective. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 33 top managers from the information technology sector and analyzed using initial, focused and theoretical coding. Findings Top managers use video technology as both an informative and interactive tool. As an informative tool, it provides affordances. When top managers apply video technology as an interactive tool, they perceive both its affordances and constraints, relating to five tensions: flexibility–inflexibility, social connectedness–social disconnectedness, engagement–disengagement, sharing formal information–concealing informal information and equality–inequality. Originality/value This study contributes to research on e-leadership by offering a perspective through the lens of affordances. Additionally, it advances the research on technology affordances by identifying the unique affordances and constraints of video technology. Based on these affordances, constraints, and tensions between them, a theoretical framework of video technology as an informative or an interactive tool in e-leadership is presented.

This study investigates the factors affecting transit ridership at the stop level, including the effect of business establishment attributes. Using a large-scale passenger boarding and alighting data set, a mixed-effects hierarchical regression modeling technique is employed to capture the heterogeneity of various attributes considered in the weekday and weekend ridership analysis. Key findings reveal that population density significantly affects ridership, with higher values increasing ridership. Higher-income individuals are more likely to use personal vehicles, and the model shows a negative effect on ridership. Single-detached households, larger household sizes, and higher employment rates also have a negative effect on ridership, especially during the evening hours. Proximity to educational institutions and healthcare facilities is associated with lower ridership, and locations such as commercial banks, insurance agencies, parks, studios, consulting services, engineering services, and law offices show higher ridership. Proximity to highways, downtown, and more bus routes increases ridership, and longer wait times and parking facilities decrease it. This study also finds that professional and technical services, as well as dining out and weekend partying at restaurants, positively affect ridership. Retail and wholesale services negatively affect ridership, suggesting a preference for personal vehicles and active transportation modes. In addition, larger employee sizes contribute to increased ridership. Insights from this study, such as enhancing transit access in densely populated and low-income areas, fostering business development, providing more frequent and varied routes, improving infrastructure, reducing wait times, and increasing bus routes, can help policymakers substantially increase transit ridership. This study model can also predict future ridership based on business changes, which is important as e-commerce and remote work evolve in the post-pandemic era.