Aligning human resource practices with remote work demands to enhance employee performance and engagement

Abstract

Despite the rapid expansion of remote work, traditional human resource practices remain largely designed for office-based environments and are insufficiently aligned with the unique demands of remote work.  Furthermore, existing theoretical approaches do not clearly explain how HR practices can be systematically designed as organisational resources that mitigate remote work demands and enhance employee engagement and performance. This conceptual paper proposes a multi-dimensional framework to enhance employee engagement and performance in a remote work environment. Thes study seeks to bridge the gap in human resource practices by offering practices suitable for remote workers. Guided by the Job Demand-Resources model and the Ability, Motivation and Opportunity framework, this study employed a conceptual methodology that combined theory adaption and model-building. A systematic literature review using Boolean operators was conducted across Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus.  Twenty-five peer-reviewed studies published 2020 and 2026 were identified and thematically analysed.  Furthermore, the review revealed five job demands: social isolation, blurred work-life balance, communication complexity, technological strain, and performance visibility.  Consequently, these job demands can be mitigated by implementing strategic human resources practices such as recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, compensation, and work-life balance.  By proposing a human resource management framework that may enable efficient remote work practices, promote sustainable development and the evolving business ecosystem.  The framework contributes to SDG 3 and by promoting employee well-being and productive work practices. The study also offer useful information for business looking to create robust HRM plans that maintain worker performance and engagement is digitally connected business ecosystem.

Keywords: {'name': 'remote workers; job demands; employee performance; employee engagement; human resource practice'}

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Sibonginkosi Saruchera
University of South Africa

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