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Motivation and Productivity of Employees in Higher Education during the First Lockdown

Author

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  • Jacqueline R. Rietveld

    (Academy International Business Administration and Human Resource Management, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, 8917 DD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)

  • Djoerd Hiemstra

    (Academy International Business Administration and Human Resource Management, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, 8917 DD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)

  • Aleid E. Brouwer

    (Academy International Business Administration and Human Resource Management, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, 8917 DD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)

  • Jan Waalkens

    (Academy International Business Administration and Human Resource Management, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, 8917 DD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)

Abstract

In a cross-sectional study among 623 employees of a higher education institution, we examined the relations between perceived competence, autonomy, relatedness, intrinsic motivation, and productivity during the first lockdown in the spring of 2020. The results indicate that, relative to the period before the lockdown, the employees experienced an increase in autonomy and competence, but a decrease in relatedness, intrinsic motivation, and productivity. Structural equation modelling revealed that the decrease in productivity can be explained by a decrease in intrinsic motivation, which in turn can be explained by changes in relatedness, autonomy, and perceived competence. Thus, during the lockdown, both positive and negative motivational consequences of teleworking were observed. However, the ultimate consequence for employees’ productivity was negative. An important difference between this study and previous studies on the topic of teleworking, is that the present examined the motivational process under extreme circumstances in which employees had to switch overnight form onsite to remote working.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqueline R. Rietveld & Djoerd Hiemstra & Aleid E. Brouwer & Jan Waalkens, 2021. "Motivation and Productivity of Employees in Higher Education during the First Lockdown," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:12:y:2021:i:1:p:1-:d:707196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Erik Brynjolfsson & John J. Horton & Adam Ozimek & Daniel Rock & Garima Sharma & Hong-Yi TuYe, 2020. "COVID-19 and Remote Work: An Early Look at US Data," NBER Working Papers 27344, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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