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Exploring the effects of remote work on employee productivity in Botswana amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas Chiguvi

    (BA ISAGO University)

  • Keneilwe Bakani

    (Botswana Unified Revenue Services, Gaborone, Botswana)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a widespread shift towards remote work, driven by the imperative of social distancing. This transition has compelled organizations and individuals worldwide to explore alternative employment arrangements. Botswana, like many other nations, witnessed a significant uptake of remote work, leading to the formulation of remote work policies by numerous institutions. To ensure the viability of these policies, it is essential to consider their practicality for both companies and employees. The pandemic offered institutions such as the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) an opportunity to investigate the efficacy of working-from-home (WFH) arrangements, which could play a pivotal role in shaping future labor policies to accommodate flexible working hours. This study leverages data from BURS to scrutinize the impact of WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic on employee productivity in Botswana. Employing descriptive qualitative research methods and conducting in-depth interviews with 18 BURS personnel who experienced WFH during the lockdown, the study employs theme analysis and non-probability sampling to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal that WFH contributed to increased employee productivity, underscoring the importance of allocating adequate resources to optimize WFH performance in organizations. Key Words:Work From Home (WFH), COVID-19, Productivity, Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS), Botswana.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas Chiguvi & Keneilwe Bakani, 2023. "Exploring the effects of remote work on employee productivity in Botswana amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(6), pages 101-117, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:12:y:2023:i:6:p:101-117
    DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v12i6.2505
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    References listed on IDEAS

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