Study the Productivity and Perceived Stress among Remote and In-office Employees

Abstract

This study investigates the productivity and the degree of perceived stress among people who are doing work-from-home and among regular office going people, with a focus on gender differences. The inclination of work-from-home driven by rising developments in the IT as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, definitely raised questions about its effect on workers performance and welfare. This research compares work environments of remote and in-office employees to understand their effects on productivity and perceived stress. A total of 60 employees (30 remote and 30 in-office) from various industries in Pune city participated in the study. Productivity was assessed using the Endicott Work Productivity Scale (EWPS), while perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results indicated that in-office employees had significantly higher productivity levels than remote employees (p < 0.01). Sex distinctions regarding productivity did not show significance, but women office workers noted greater perceived stress levels compared to male employees (p < 0.01). Furthermore, remote employees experienced significantly greater degrees of stress in comparison with their regular office going workers counterparts (p < 0.01). A negative correlation was found between productivity and perceived stress, indicating that greater degree of stress is related with lesser productivity. These results insist on the necessity for the institutions for considering both the advantages and challenges of work-from-home specifically in association with the welfare as well as quality of the work among office workers. The study contributes with important understandings for employers as well as for policymakers in making a workplace which enhances productivity as well as reduces stress.