How Remote Work Changes Communication in Organizations

This qualitative phenomenological inquiry explores the impact of remote work on communication in the professional sphere. Thirteen participants from different sectors including education, business, healthcare, government, and mental health were interviewed regarding their experiences with remote work communication. Remote work introduces complexities to communication, it expands dependency on technology, increases wait time, tests trust, and reduces visual cues. The results of this study pointed to communication being particularly difficult for remote workers due to the limits it places on interpersonal exchanges. Language, tone, technology, trust, and personal as well as interpersonal concerns contributed to the results. The implications for management hinge on the notion that poor remote work communication may diminish personal relationships and make the organization less resilient during challenging times as a consequence. Participants noted that remote work fostered predominantly professional interpersonal relationships, devoid of personal connection. Trust issues emerged when struggling employees faced heightened oversight and micromanagement, rather than open communication. The benefits of remote work were dependent on the perspectives of individuals working from home. More research is needed on remote work and interpersonal relationships, and the effects of remote work communication on productivity to assess the comprehensive impact of working from home and interactions.