A quantitative study on the effects of Covid-19 related remote working upon Department of Social Protection staff with particular regard to well-being, work/life balance, and motivation

Condon, Eimhin (2021) A quantitative study on the effects of Covid-19 related remote working upon Department of Social Protection staff with particular regard to well-being, work/life balance, and motivation. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This paper looks at the effects of remote working on the staff body of one large government organisation, the Department of Social Protection (DSP), Ireland. It gives a background to the remote working situation, looks at the current position, and potential future measures. It draws on the works of others who have examined the area and effect of remote working both before and during the pandemic. It looks at the focus of these studies and both past and recent findings.

It examines and assesses the results of a survey on the staff of the department’s perceptions of their well-being, work/life balance, and motivation, and how this may have changed or developed after a year of remote working. The findings of this survey are measured against other relevant studies and surveys to give a more accurate representation of recent attitudes to, and perceptions of, remote working. For most department staff, due to Covid-19, remote working became mandatory where prior to the pandemic it would have been a rarity. Though there has been much study of the effects of remote working on the worker up to now there has been less focus on the effects of obligatory remote working. This paper examines the effect of mandatory remote working on the worker in the areas of well-being, work/life balance, and motivation, how these perceptions may change over time, and what can be learned from these findings.

The study found that largely DSP staff have improved levels of well-being and work/life balance but have relatively unchanged motivation levels. An improved work/life balance is the most important of the three areas studied. Where respondents have more free time and better control of their time, work/life balance is improved which is shown to underpin improvements in well-being and motivation.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > Ireland > Government Departments H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Performance Management > Motivation H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Business Administration
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2022 11:29
Last Modified:	28 Jan 2022 11:29
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5364

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