Working Remotely During the Pandemic

Remote Working

The COVID-19 virus brought about radical changes in many areas of our lives. In order to prevent the spread of this easily transmissible virus, countries implemented several restrictions such as curfews, the closure of non-essential facilities, the transition to distance education in schools, and the cancellation of public events. Within the scope of these restrictions, many companies also shifted to remote working systems.

Remote working refers to performing one’s job outside the physical workplace by using various communication technologies such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers. Tasks are planned between the employer and the employee, and the employee is expected to follow this schedule.

Remote working has both positive and negative aspects for employees. One of its advantages is that working conditions are under the control of the employee. Individuals can decide on the temperature, lighting, design of their environment, and even the clothes they wear while working. They can also organize tasks and, to some extent, determine their working hours. Physical and mental effort, as well as expenses related to commuting, are reduced. The likelihood of encountering stressful situations such as traffic or workplace conflicts may also decrease. These positive aspects may increase motivation, and the resulting sense of individual autonomy may contribute to personal development.

However, remote working also has several disadvantages. Asynchronous communication refers to delayed communication between employees due to working in different environments. Since individuals set their own working hours and allocate time to tasks independently in remote work systems, they may see or respond to emails, calls, or messages later than