Sustainability Analysis, Implications, and Effects of the Teleworking System in Romania

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a mobilizing circumstance for rethinking the economic activities of companies, as well as reorganizing the way employees work. To comply with the regulations imposed worldwide, most economic activities were transferred to the online environment. The purpose of the paper is to carry out an investigation of the Romanian telework system implemented during the pandemic based on the perception of employees and employers. Our research was conducted based on an online opinion poll in which 438 respondents participated. The questionnaire included the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, methods and techniques for implementing telework among Romanian companies, and a correlation of the advantages and opportunities with the limits experienced both among companies and employees in carrying out this process. The results showed that 7.80% of companies wanted to maintain the conditions implemented for telework, 12.30% wanted to expand flexible practices to promote telework, and 27.60% would not make any changes in terms of telework methods. At the same time, 81.10% of employees preferred office work rather than teleworking. Successful implementation of the telework system involves efficient management that coordinates and motivates the performance of remote employees.

Determinants of Perceived Performance during Telework: Evidence from Romania

“…It is to be noted how new ideas were created through repeated messages [47]. However, as the situation stabilized, companies and employees were able to better understand the benefits and challenges brought by telework, and studies moved toward analyzing results concerning sustainability, stressing the necessity of issuing policies to decrease the main risks, and offering practical perspectives for teleworkers and managers [48][49][50].…”

Building an Integrated Digital Transformation System Framework: A Design Science Research, the Case of FedUni

“…Digital transformation received a fast push due to the pandemic. For instance, the teleworking system in Romania was implemented during the pandemic [11]. Subsequently, adopting and integrating new digital technologies into the enterprise infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges that companies are currently facing [12].…”

Telework and new work practices: The role of managers

“…Previous research has shown that a more relationshiporiented behavior on the managers' side, particularly focused on communication, is crucial for telework implementation, as professional isolation negatively impacts job performance (Golden et al, 2008;Dahlstrom, 2013). Effective supervision, defined as managing results and building proactive communication policies for achieving inclusion and building trusting relationships through communication (Baruch, 2001), as well as the existence of a collaborative relationship (Ionescu et al, 2022) play a significant role in the link between telework arrangements and organizational performance. Pearlson and Saunders (2001) noted the need to focus on teleworkers' results, clear business objectives and measures, frequent and multiple communications, and well-supported infrastructure.…”