The effects of remote working on employees in the pensions industry

Hendrick, Thomas (2023) The effects of remote working on employees in the pensions industry. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

From March 2020 under government Covid guidelines, a shift took place in how employees around Ireland and in many industries went about their work. Having now emerged from this crisis many people who never worked remotely before now have the ability to not be bound to a 9 to 5 and Monday to Friday office job.

This study will examine the effects that the remote working model has on employees in the pensions industry. The pensions industry has over the last number of years undergone significant changes for all involved and employees have been at the forefront. This research aims to build on recent studies by CIPD (2022) and Ferdous (2021) whereby employees on a whole want to maintain flexible working arrangements but also wish to maintain a positive work life balance and avoid overworking.

Using the qualitative method, interviews were undertaken with 7 participants in the pensions industry to gauge their thoughts on the WFH model and what does/doesn’t work for them. These interviews were on a semi structured basis with participants given the opportunity to give in depth answers on their personal views on the remote working model. There were some limitations using the qualitative method such as time constraints in organising face to face interviews and of the sample size used to conduct the research.

The participants were all full-time employees in the industry split between employees in senior and junior administrative roles. Using interviews and the thematic analysis approach allowed the researcher to identify four different themes that occurred. The four themes that arose when discussing with participants are outlined below and will be discussed further on.

1. Employee Adaptability
2. Employee wellbeing
3. Social Interaction
4. Pace of change

The key findings the researcher found having conducted this research were that employees wish to maintain a hybrid working model and continue to be able to avail of flexible working models while at the same time maintain a work life balance. There were also concerns raised from A) lack of social interaction to B) if any future change in the economy, could make job losses easier to implement. As organisations have setup operations in separate low wage economies, reallocating resources to a third country could be easily done.

The implications for all stakeholders range from financial concerns, employee motivation and a need for constant communication to be maintained between all parties. However, recommendation such as more employee autonomy and increased employee support will help to achieve the correct balance for all involved.

While we are still at the beginning of this shift, research and literature is only now beginning to be conducted and published on the effects this has on employees and organisations. The researcher hopes to help employees and employers navigate their way through these changes.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email Mothersill, David UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Hours of Labour > Flexible work arrangements > Telecommuting
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Tamara Malone
Date Deposited:	17 Jan 2024 17:44
Last Modified:	17 Jan 2024 17:44
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/6931

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