Comparison of employee productivity levels between traditional and virtual offices at tertiary institutions in the Western Cape

Abstract

Throughout history, from the industrial age to the modern day, technological advancements and ergonomics have been changing the concept of offices. The Covid 19 pandemic has furthermore pivoted every aspect of our work and life, forcing organisations to adapt to various technological advancements, including virtual offices. In response to our local containment policies to mitigate the spread of Covid 19, institutions encouraged their employees to work from home. According to various studies, this had many advantages, including flexibility, cost savings and increased productivity. Employee productivity is one of the key components of any company’s profitability and long-term success. If employees complete their tasks in good time, it means they have more time to do other work, which increases output and, therefore, saves money. Most studies have focused on the advantages that come with virtual offices. However, it might not suit all employees. In this study, the researcher focuses on administrators who worked from home during the Covid 19 pandemic of 2020-2022 at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. This study focuses on the impact of office choice on employee productivity levels by highlighting the differences and similarities between the productivity levels of employees working in virtual offices versus those who are working in traditional offices. This will provide vital understanding as to the value of switching to permanent virtual offices versus returning to the traditional office with specific focus on whether these two scenarios improve employee productivity. The researcher used a descriptive research design because of its ability to allow the use of multi-methodologies that will allow for a broad understanding of the subject. This was accompanied by the choice of mixed research procedures, which are extremely compatible with the simultaneous use of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The findings indicated that, although working from home has significant benefits, employees still feel it is confusing, depressing and demotivating and prefer being micro-managed while working in a physical office with the rest of the team. Recommendations are for managers to invest in understanding in which environments their employees feel more motivated, as motivation plays a significant role in employee productivity.