THE EFFECTS OF A MANDATORY WORK FROM HOME POLICY ON RESPECT, TRUST, AND MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SWITZERLAND
1
Issued Date
2022-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
08580855
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85125044358
Journal Title
ABAC Journal
Volume
42
Issue
1
Start Page
237
End Page
257
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
ABAC Journal Vol.42 No.1 (2022) , 237-257
Suggested Citation
Schreier C. THE EFFECTS OF A MANDATORY WORK FROM HOME POLICY ON RESPECT, TRUST, AND MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SWITZERLAND. ABAC Journal Vol.42 No.1 (2022) , 237-257. 257. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/84019
Title
THE EFFECTS OF A MANDATORY WORK FROM HOME POLICY ON RESPECT, TRUST, AND MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SWITZERLAND
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This research explores how a mandatory Work from Home (WFH) policy during the Covid-19 Pandemic impacts the relationship between supervisors and supervisees. Using the Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX) as a framework, dyadic relationships in the workplace involving respect, trust, and mutual obligations, are explored through in-depth semi-structured interviews with six supervisors and six supervisees under a WFH policy in Switzerland. The findings of this study indicate that a mandatory WFH policy does not have negative impacts on respect, trust, and mutual obligations, between supervisors and supervisees. For supervisors, however, frequent communication is of paramount importance in maintaining a high level of trust. The results also indicate that WFH can potentially slow down the development of new relationships; and therefore, supervisors are reluctant to recruit new employees as they feel that this would impose limitations on establishing a well-functioning relationship in a WFH situation. Last but not least, this study finds that the benefits of WFH are highly valued by both supervisors and supervisees, who have stated that they would prefer to work from home at least a few days a week in the future, once the pandemic is contained.