Guest lecture examines sustain...
Construction students had the opportunity to attend a guest lecture by Dr Sarah Holden, founder and director of Oxygen Consulting,...
AIC researchers explore remote work impacts
A team of AIC researchers has examined how remote working affects the psychological wellbeing of software professionals in New Zealand, finding that many experience positive outcomes alongside ongoing challenges.
The study, recently published in the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, was led by Applied Management Lecturer Jayani Dissanayake, with co-authors Dr Indrapriya Kularatne and Dr Olufemi Omisakin from the Applied Management team.
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the global shift to remote working, changing how organisations operate and how employees experience their work. While remote work can offer greater flexibility and autonomy, concerns remain around isolation, reduced social interaction, and blurred work-life boundaries.
The research explored how remote working influences the psychological wellbeing of software professionals in New Zealand. Using a mixed-methods approach, the team surveyed 128 software professionals and conducted semi-structured interviews with a further 15 participants.
The findings showed that participants generally reported positive psychological wellbeing, particularly in areas such as autonomy, purpose in life, and self-acceptance.
However, interviews also revealed several challenges. Participants highlighted difficulties relating to personal growth, environmental mastery, and maintaining positive relationships with others, often linked to reduced face-to-face interaction and blurred work-life boundaries.
The researchers say the findings highlight the importance of organisations developing strategies that maximise the benefits of remote working while addressing its challenges, helping to support employee wellbeing across the IT sector.
Read the paper here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15555240.2026.2658100
