Abstract
Job crafting refers to the behaviours employees engage in to change the cognitive, relational or task-related aspects of their work environment. Employees engage in job crafting to improve their work environment, to increase job satisfaction and engagement and to seek meaning in their work. Previous research has focused on job crafting in traditional work environments. This study’s objectives were to understand what job-crafting behaviours remote-working employees engaged in during COVID-19 and to determine the ways in which job-crafting behaviours influenced the remote-working practices and experiences of employees. Furthermore, this study aimed to understand the manner in which remote work in the context of the pandemic influenced job-crafting behaviours, both with regard to challenges and opportunities. Through qualitative interviews, participants’ experiences of job-crafting behaviours were explored, revealing significant insights. The findings suggest that employees engaged in cognitive crafting, driven by maintaining a positive attitude despite pandemic challenges; task crafting that involved adjustments to home environments for increased efficiency and comfort; and relational crafting that focused on maintaining connections with colleagues and managers through digital platforms. These job-crafting behaviours were specifically enacted during remote working.. These crafting behaviours fostered adaptability, resilience, job satisfaction and engagement among remote workers. Furthermore, this study highlights the enactment of job crafting as a coping mechanism during the pandemic, emphasising the importance of mental-health support for remote workers. Limitations and recommendations for future research are presented.
Keywords: Job crafting, COVID-19, remote working, South Africa