Addressing employees' resistance to return-to-office mandate in a Philippine BPO company

• Main Author: Jose, Eron F.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Telecommuting—Psychological aspects; Passive resistance; Organizational change; Psychology, Industrial; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- —Influence; Human Resources Management
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_manorg/162; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_manorg/article/1175/viewcontent/Addressing_employees_resistance2_to_return_to_office_mandate_in_a_Redacted.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The COVID-19 pandemic induced a lot of challenges in our lives, including our workplace. This action research has identified employees’ resistance on return-to-office mandate, manifested by increased employee turnover, low productivity, and engagement levels. Coupled with lack of relationship between different management functions and the absence of activities to keep the morale high of the employees, it became a serious organizational challenge. The main objective of the action research is to address these challenges through a multifaceted but interconnected actions to minimize employee resistance. This research was a collaborative effort of the insider researcher and the collaborators by utilizing the action research cycle. Issues were first identified by using ORJI, left hand column and different levels of inquiry. In addition, theoretical frameworks such as Unfolding Model of Voluntary Turnover, Four Steps in Reimagine Work and Workplace, Job Embeddedness Theory and Lewin’s Change Management Theory guided the group in planning and implementing appropriate, relevant, and timely actions to address these pandemic-induced workplace challenges. Overall, the successful implementation of the action research cycle led to a positive outcome for the employees and the organization. Moreover, the research paper is a true testament of the Lasallian Code of Business Ethics to promote a humane and enabling work community within organizations.