Impact of Remote Work on Employee Retention. Use Technology as a Mediator

Abstract

This research analyzes the effect of remote work on employee retention while considering technology as the mediator in the post-COVID-19 work scenario of Pakistan. Especially post-COVID, the ability to work remotely or in a hybrid capacity has become a vital factor for both employees and organizations. The use of technology to facilitate communication has transformed how employees engage with, collaborate with, and sustain their relationship with their organization. The study intends to explore the practice of remote work, technology, and employee retention, specifically through the use of Zoom, MS Teams, Google Workspace, and WhatsApp, and their impact on employees’ intent to remain with their organization or platform under conditions of flexible work. The study was quantitative and primarily utilized a survey-based approach with data collected from remote, hybrid, freelance, and platform-based workers in Pakistan. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS and included the following: descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, correlation, regression, and mediation analysis. The study’s outcome indicates that remote work positively impacts the adoption of technology, and technology, in turn, positively impacts employee retention. The outcome further indicates that technology as a mediator positively impacts remote work and employee retention. In this context, the advantages of remote work are enhanced if employees are provided with digital tools that are easily accessible, reliable, and supportive. The outcome indicates that a direct remote work and employee retention relationship also exists, and the relationship is characterized by flexibility, autonomy, diminished work-related travel, and an improved balance in work and personal life, which in turn positively impacts employees’ intent to remain with their organization. The study states that organizations are not able to retain employees with remote working solutions on their own. They also have to put in place good systems of digital communication, tech support while easing and eliminating the stress caused by tech, and make remote working policies more equitable. The study adds to Theory by incorporating the Technology Acceptance Model, the Job Demands-Resources Model, and Social Exchange Theory into the context of remote work in Pakistan. The study strongly suggests to employers to support their employees and digitally improve the flexibly work-based systems to ensure employees are retained in the modern workplace.