Abstract
Orientation: Remote work recently gained traction globally due to the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, however, not all companies promptly adapted to this.
Research purpose: The study investigated the perceived influence of working remotely on
employee productivity and performance management in South Africa.
Motivation for the study: The ambivalent trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and its longterm
accompanying impacts have rendered research topics around the subject pertinent.
Research approach, design, and method: A quantitative research approach was employed,
and the sample population included remote workers within three South African provinces,
between the ages of 18 and 65. The sampling method employed was purposive sampling with
a complementary snowball sampling approach.
Main findings: The results revealed that respondents preferred working remotely, as this was
more convenient and cost efficient for them. However, respondents indicated that remote
working caused them to work in isolation and longer hours than in the office to prove their
productivity to their line managers and employers, thus impeding their social life.
Practical/managerial implications: HR professionals should develop different policies aligned
with remote work and restructure business operations in a way that aligns work responsibilities
with the online working environment, as respondents felt their organisation’s current
performance management and HR Policies were not suited for working remotely.
Contribution/value-add: The study offers insights that could assist South African organisations
to adopt more effective remote work structures and policies, especially those who will continue
with remote work even after the pandemic.