The Changing Landscape of Work: Lessons from the Covid-19 Remote-Work Experience in Kerala's IT Sector

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled organisations to adopt remote work at an unprecedented scale and, in doing so, accelerated changes in communication, employee engagement, resource provision and work-life boundaries. This study examines the remote-work experience of employees in Kerala's information technology (IT) sector and considers the lessons that this period offers for contemporary remote and hybrid work design. Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire from employees with work-from-home experience in Kerala's IT sector. The analytical output contains 102 valid cases. The instrument demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .880). Regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with communication and work engagement, while a Friedman test assessed differences among selected employee motivational practices. The communication model was statistically significant (R = .620, R² = .385, F = 20.424, p < .001), with project information, feedback and company knowledge emerging as significant predictors. The work-engagement model was also significant (R = .590, R² = .348, F = 17.439, p < .001); availability of resources, flexible working hours and career progression were significant predictors. However, the Friedman test did not establish a statistically significant difference among the five motivational practices examined (χ²(4) = 6.476, p = .166). The findings suggest that effective remote and hybrid work depends not simply on location but on organisational systems that support communication, access to resources, flexibility, development opportunities and healthy work boundaries. The study provides context-specific evidence from Kerala's IT sector and highlights managerial lessons that remain relevant as organisations move from emergency remote work to more deliberate hybrid-work arrangements.