Arnaud Scaillerez, a professor of human resources and health services management at the Université de Moncton’s École des hautes études publiques, is studying the benefits of telework on employers, employees, and regions.
Project Summary
Before the pandemic, employers tended to be reluctant to allow employees to work from home, even though the trend toward telework was on the rise. The urgent nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has led employers and employees to reconsider their reluctance, and indeed, several employers have been forced to implement home-based work.
While the transition to telework has been swift, little time has been taken to reflect on its implementation. With the benefit of several months of experience, it is possible to continue building on the use of telework, both in terms of working from home and utilizing what is called “coworking” spaces, but thought and analysis are needed to implement the practice in a way that optimizes both employer performance and employee well-being and safety.
Telework also is already generating significant economic and environmental spin-offs in various regions, in the form of newcomers, better organizational performance, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
It is in the context of this post-COVID reflection on telework that Professor Scaillerez is canvassing employers in the public, private, and health sectors to further our understanding of this promising practice, which can be of benefit to all.
“Telework has the potential to drive economic development and population growth in New Brunswick. It’s the future of work,” he explains.
In addition to teaching human resources and health services management at the Université de Moncton’s École des hautes études publiques, Professor Scaillerez also writes a human resources management column for the Acadie Nouvelle newspaper. His research interests lie in telework, work life balance, new workplaces, and motivation at work. He sits on the board of directors of the Acadia chapter of Acfas, which promotes French-language research in minority language settings.