Work From Home: Experiences and Future Challenges - Indian Perspectives from Pandemic Coronavirus and Consequent Lockdown

Abstract

Purpose- The Pandemic Coronavirus and consequent lockdown outbreak has called for "the largest Work - From - Home (WFH) experiment worldwide". Receiving huge numbers of personnel to Work-From-Home has not ever been crucial. WFH is recommended and implemented by approximately half (46%) of organizations because of the COVID-19 . Design - This research paper did an in-depth study of WFH policies and explored experiences and challenges faced by employees. 260 executives working in 37 industries/sectors were approached through an online structured questionnaire. Findings -Service Industries such as IT, Analytics, KPO, and Market Research are ready to implement Work from home. Research limitations - The research study is limited to selected cities of Gujarat and Maharashtra states of India. The survey can be extended to other cities / states / countries. Practical implications - COVID - 19 has changed the experiences of being an employee or an HR. The results generated from the research, can be useful to provide inputs to the organizations, HR managers and strategic thinkers to take decisions about implementation, continuation and challenges of WFH arrangements as a long-term HR strategy in the coming future (in selected sectors/industries). Social implications - Coronavirus, prompted major changes in life as Work from home (WFH) became the new normal. Employees embraced new routines and rules. The world saw its influence on all facets of life and has changed the way people work. Originality- The distinctiveness of this article is that it provides evidences on how Indian workforce shifted to remote work in the months after the pandemic outbreak.