The Implications of the Virtual Environment on Workplace Efficiency

Abstract

The crisis generated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced organizations around the world to rethink their strategies and, more importantly, to adapt their current activities from traditional work at the employer’s premises to working from home. More than 30 years ago, academic research predicted that rapid advances in technology would facilitate the deployment of remote working, and recent technological progress has accelerated its adoption, particularly in the service sector. Work performed by employees outside the employer’s premises is commonly referred to as telecommuting, but alternative terms such as remote work, home-based work, remote online work, or home office are also used. Telework, an integral part of human resource policies, is regulated by legislation in most countries, and in Romania, Law 81/2018 sets specific provisions for this activity. Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, telework and its forms were considered more an option or an alternative for completing tasks than a necessity. Organizations in fields such as telecommunications, IT product development, and design had already offered employees the possibility to work from home, either partially or entirely. In many cases, employers allowed employees to decide how many days per month they wished to work from home or from a location other than the traditional office. The reasons why employees or employers opted for remote work were linked to high office rental costs in urban centers, limited parking spaces, wasted commuting time, and overcrowding in public transport, especially during peak hours. These factors made remote work an increasingly attractive option. (Dabija, 2021, p. 403) In this context, telework has experienced significant expansion in recent years, especially during the pandemic, when avoiding crowds and maintaining physical distancing became imperative. Telework, also known as teleworking, is defined as a form of work that is independent of location and relies on information technology and telecommunications. In this way, the employee regularly and voluntarily fulfills the specific duties of their role, occupation, or trade in a location different from that organized by the employer. Telework represents a broad concept, encompassing multiple ways of applying and organizing work within an organization (Man, C., p. 225). Keywords: efficiency; virtual environment; motivation; satisfaction; remote work.