IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp18020.html

Determinants and Effects of Remote Work Arrangements: Evidence from an Employer Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Fang, Tony

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

  • Gunderson, Morley

    (University of Toronto)

  • Hartley, John

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

  • King, Graham

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

  • Ming, Hui

    (Sichuan University)

Abstract

Remote work arrangements are compelling examples of an organization’s ability to utilize digital technology. This study analyzes data from a representative survey of Atlantic Canadian employers to evaluate three phenomena: how remote work evolved during the recent COVID-19 pandemic; the factors influencing these changes; and the impact of these changes on business outcomes. Our findings suggest that urban firms, technologically advanced companies in certain highly skilled industries, and firms offering greater flexibility for remote work were most likely to enhance remote work practices during the pandemic. For the average firm, an increase in the share of remote work correlated with higher organizational productivity, improved employee performance, and greater new product/service innovation. The primary downside was heightened management complexity. Variations were observed along industry and provincial lines.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang, Tony & Gunderson, Morley & Hartley, John & King, Graham & Ming, Hui, 2025. "Determinants and Effects of Remote Work Arrangements: Evidence from an Employer Survey," IZA Discussion Papers 18020, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18020
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp18020.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marcello M. Mariani & Michela Matarazzo, 2021. "Does cultural distance affect online review ratings? Measuring international customers’ satisfaction with services leveraging digital platforms and big data," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(4), pages 1057-1078, December.
    2. M. Halinski & Jennifer A. Harrison, 2020. "The Job Resources-Engagement Relationship: The Role of Location," Post-Print hal-04457129, HAL.
    3. Nicholas Bloom & Ruobing Han & James Liang, 2022. "How hybrid working from home works out," POID Working Papers 059, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    4. Nicholas Bloom & James Liang & John Roberts & Zhichun Jenny Ying, 2015. "Does Working from Home Work? Evidence from a Chinese Experiment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 130(1), pages 165-218.
    5. Tran Thi Hue, 2019. "The determinants of innovation in Vietnamese manufacturing firms: an empirical analysis using a technology–organization–environment framework," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 9(3), pages 247-267, September.
    6. Guillermo Gallacher & Iqbal Hossain, 2020. "Remote Work and Employment Dynamics under COVID-19: Evidence from Canada," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 46(S1), pages 44-54, July.
    7. Ishii, Kayoko & Yamamoto, Isamu & Nakayama, Mao, 2023. "Potential benefits and determinants of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Japanese Household Panel Data," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    8. José María Barrero & Nicholas Bloom & Steven J. Davis, 2023. "The Evolution of Work from Home," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 37(4), pages 23-50, Fall.
    9. Giotopoulos, Ioannis & Kontolaimou, Alexandra & Korra, Efthymia & Tsakanikas, Aggelos, 2017. "What drives ICT adoption by SMEs? Evidence from a large-scale survey in Greece," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 60-69.
    10. Fabian Braesemann & Fabian Stephany & Ole Teutloff & Otto Kässi & Mark Graham & Vili Lehdonvirta, 2022. "The global polarisation of remote work," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(10), pages 1-22, October.
    11. Yap, Cs & Soh, Cpp & Raman, Ks, 1992. "Information systems success factors in small business," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 20(5-6), pages 597-609.
    12. Amanda Davies, 2021. "COVID-19 and ICT-Supported Remote Working: Opportunities for Rural Economies," World, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-14, March.
    13. Tajeddini, Kayhan, 2010. "Effect of customer orientation and entrepreneurial orientation on innovativeness: Evidence from the hotel industry in Switzerland," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 221-231.
    14. Anna Giunta & Francesco Trivieri, 2007. "Understanding the determinants of information technology adoption: evidence from Italian manufacturing firms," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(10), pages 1325-1334.
    15. J. Piet Hausberg & Kirsten Liere-Netheler & Sven Packmohr & Stefanie Pakura & Kristin Vogelsang, 2019. "Research streams on digital transformation from a holistic business perspective: a systematic literature review and citation network analysis," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(8), pages 931-963, December.
    16. Youngjin Yoo & Ola Henfridsson & Kalle Lyytinen, 2010. "Research Commentary ---The New Organizing Logic of Digital Innovation: An Agenda for Information Systems Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 724-735, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alessandra Fenizia & Tom Kirchmaier, 2024. "Not incentivized yet efficient: Working from home in the public sector," CEP Discussion Papers dp2036, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    2. Uwe Jirjahn & Cinzia Rienzo, 2026. "Working From Home and Performance Pay: Individual or Collective Payment Schemes?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 64(1), pages 39-51, March.
    3. Johannes Lehmann & Michael Beckmann, 2024. "Digital Transformation in Switzerland: The Current State and Expectations," Papers 2412.12784, arXiv.org.
    4. Zarate, Pablo & Dolls, Mathias & Davis, Steven & Bloom, Nicholas & Barrero, Jose Maria & Aksoy, Cevat Giray, 2024. "Why Does Working from Home Vary Across Countries and People?," CEPR Discussion Papers 19003, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Isabella Di Filippo & Bruno Escobar & Juan Facal, 2025. "Remote Work and Women's Labor Supply: The New Gender Division at Home," Papers 2508.08184, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2026.
    6. Masayuki Morikawa, 2024. "Productivity dynamics of work from home: Firm-level evidence from Japan," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 465-487, April.
    7. Vij, Akshay & Souza, Flavio F. & Barrie, Helen & Anilan, V. & Sarmiento, Sergio & Washington, Lynette, 2023. "Employee preferences for working from home in Australia," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 782-800.
    8. Markus Nagler & Johannes Rincke & Erwin Winkler, 2024. "Working from home, commuting, and gender," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(3), pages 1-23, September.
    9. Hani Al-Dmour & Rima Al Hasan & Motasem Thneibat & Ra’ed Masa’deh & Wafa Alkhadra & Rand Al-Dmour & Ali Alalwan, 2023. "Integrated Model for the Factors Determining the Academic’s Remote Working Productivity and Engagement: Empirical Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    10. Sabrina Hoessler & Claus-Christian Carbon, 2024. "Digital transformation in incumbent companies: a qualitative study on exploration and exploitation activities in innovation," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-31, December.
    11. Cevat Giray Aksoy & Jose Maria Barrero & Nicholas Bloom & Steven J. Davis & Mathias Dolls & Pablo Zarate, 2022. "Working from Home Around the World," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 53(2 (Fall)), pages 281-360.
    12. Miozza, Mario & Brunetta, Federica & Appio, Francesco Paolo, 2024. "Digital transformation of the Pharmaceutical Industry: A future research agenda for management studies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    13. Michele Mariani & Livia Ristuccia & Pasqualino Montanaro, 2023. "Propensity to work remotely in the Bank of Italy: a behavioural analysis," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 753, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    14. Bernardus Doornik & Deniz Igan & Enisse Kharroubi, 2023. "Labour markets: what explains the resilience?," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, December.
    15. Cowan, Benjamin & Jones, Todd R., 2025. "Social Substitution? Time Use Responses to Increased Workplace Isolation," IZA Discussion Papers 18112, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Nicole Nestoriak & David H. Oh, 2025. "What Makes Work from Home Work? Evidence on Telework and Worker Tasks," NBER Chapters, in: The Changing Nature of Work, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Jannis Bischof & Joachim Gassen & Anna Rohlfing-Bastian & Davud Rostam-Afschar & Caren Sureth-Sloane, 2024. "Accounting for Transparency: a Framework and Three Applications in Tax, Managerial, and Financial Accounting," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 76(4), pages 573-611, December.
    18. Soluk, Jonas & Decker-Lange, Carolin & Hack, Andreas, 2023. "Small steps for the big hit: A dynamic capabilities perspective on business networks and non-disruptive digital technologies in SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    19. Battisti, Enrico & Alfiero, Simona & Leonidou, Erasmia, 2022. "Remote working and digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic: Economic–financial impacts and psychological drivers for employees," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 38-50.
    20. Gaetano Basso & Davide Dottori & Sara Formai, 2025. "Working from home and labour productivity: firm-level evidence," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1508, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18020. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Mark Fallak (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/izaaalu.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.