Bucknell University professor investigates telework efficiency worldwide
WILKES-BARRE (WOLF) — Even as a number of counties begin to transition into the yellow phase there is still a number of employees working remotely.
A number of larger companies like Amazon are extending their work from home policies into October, while others like Nationwide Insurance are letting employees do this permanently.
Researchers around the world, including one right here in Pennsylvania said could have its long-term benefits.
"It became very sudden and it was very hastily put together," said Eddy Ng, Bucknell University professor of management.
Ng along several other researchers are launching a study across four continents to investigate telework efficiency.
"Of course this is going to change the way employers or organizations function as we do work," said Ng.
While it is also changing the job market.
"You’re not just competing in a local market, but you’re competing across the country or even globally," said Ng.
According to the Pew Research Center seven percent of Americans were already working remotely in the private sector before the pandemic.
Ng said more than 20 percent of Europe had already been working from home.
"There are some good experiences working from home, one being you have great control over how you do work," said Ng.
Some advantages that create new challenges for businesses, like The Cafe along route 315 in Plains Township.
The Cafe heavily relies on nearby corporate employees.
"We're kind of changing our business model, we had to eliminate our formal dining at night that we do," said Jeff Woytowich, owner.
Woytowich said they began reaching out to essential clients at the start of the outbreak.
They quickly turned their banquet room which holds a large number of corporate seminars into a preparation area.
"They reached out to us right away to see if we can handle some of the daily caterings that we do," said Woytowich.
These daily caterings could increase as more people turn their kitchens into cubicles.
"There are certainly lessons to be learned as we use our multi-culture, multi-region analysis here," said Ng.
Ng said some of the disadvantages include the lack of cyber security and employee supervision.
They are all things he said could quickly change as more innovative ideas come out.
