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Disrupted work: home‐based teleworking ( HbTW ) in the aftermath of a natural disaster
Author(s) -
Donnelly Noelle,
ProctorThomson Sarah B.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
new technology, work and employment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.889
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1468-005X
pISSN - 0268-1072
DOI - 10.1111/ntwe.12040
Subject(s) - natural disaster , work (physics) , public relations , perception , control (management) , emergency management , business , political science , engineering , psychology , geography , management , economics , mechanical engineering , neuroscience , meteorology , law
Natural disasters disrupt the nature of work, promoting an urgent review of where work is performed. Home‐based telework ( HbTW ), a common form of telework, is increasingly promoted as a means to ensure continuity of operations in an emergency situation. While widely advocated, little is known of the challenges and outcomes of HbTW when employed in disaster situations. This article explores the organisational and employee experiences of HbTW in the aftermath of a disaster, drawing on data from over 240 public sector workers and their managers who worked from home following a series of earthquakes in C hristchurch, N ew Z ealand. Findings point to critical factors shaping the experiences and outcomes of HbTW in disaster situations. Significant variation in the experiences and perceptions of HbTW for team leaders highlights their pivotal role and heightened pressures to maintain control in complex disaster situations.