Remote work environment and employee productivity in telecommunication companies in Kenya

Abstract

Employee productivity in telecommunication companies in Kenya has been a growing concern, particularly with the rapid shift towards remote and hybrid work models. According to a report by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK, 2023), inefficiencies in work processes, inadequate digital skills, and network reliability issues have contributed to reduced operational effectiveness in the sector therefore the study seek to assess the influence of remote work environment on employee productivity in Telecommunication sector in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to assess the effect of digital connectivity, job autonomy, work-life integration and flexible scheduling on employee productivity in Telecommunication sector in Kenya. The study was anchored on diffusion of innovation theory, self-determination theory, conservation of resources theory and temporal fit theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study targeted 300 employees in the 6 core departments from the six major telecommunication companies in Kenya. The study used Yamane’s’ formula to get the sample size of 171 employees. In addition, the study adopted stratified random sampling to get sample size in each department. The study used both questionnaire and interview schedule to collect the primary data desirable for the study. Questionnaire were used to collect data from department heads. Interview schedule was used to collect data from employees. The pilot study was carried out at Safaricom Limited Offices in Nakuru Town. The questionnaires in this study were validated through the application of content validity. The reliability of the study instruments was determined by generating Cronbach’s Alpha reliability of 0.70 or higher. Data that was gathered in this study was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Qualitative data from the interview schedule was analyzed using thematic analysis and presented in prose form. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics involved the use of frequency, percentage, mean and std. Inferential statistics involved the use of correlation and regression analysis. The findings were presented using tables and in prose form. The study concluded that digital connectivity had a moderate, positive, and statistically significant influence on employee productivity in the telecommunication sector in Kenya. In addition, the study concluded that job autonomy had a strong, positive, and statistically significant effect on employee productivity in the telecommunication industry, Furthermore the study concluded that work-life integration had a significant and positive impact on employee productivity within the telecommunication sector. Finally, the study concluded that flexible scheduling had a positive and statistically significant correlation with employee productivity in the telecommunications industry. The study recommends that organizations in the telecommunication sector should continue to invest in stable and high-speed internet infrastructure to support remote work. Reliable digital connectivity has been shown to directly impact employee productivity by reducing disruptions and enabling efficient task completion. The study recommends that HR departments implement structured work-life balance programs to support employees in managing the blurred boundaries between work and personal life in remote environments.