THE EFFECTS OF A MANDATORY WORK FROM HOME POLICY ON RESPECT, TRUST, AND MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SWITZERLAND

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.