Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the future
IntroductionTelework is increasing in working life, especially in knowledge intense organizations as academic institutions. Managers are found crucial for performance and wellbeing outcomes in telework, but managers' perspective on leading teleworkers lacks attention.MethodsThis study aimed to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Organizational Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/forgp.2025.1596172/full |
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| author | Linda Widar Eva Boman Marina Heiden Birgitta Wiitavaara |
| author_facet | Linda Widar Eva Boman Marina Heiden Birgitta Wiitavaara |
| author_sort | Linda Widar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionTelework is increasing in working life, especially in knowledge intense organizations as academic institutions. Managers are found crucial for performance and wellbeing outcomes in telework, but managers' perspective on leading teleworkers lacks attention.MethodsThis study aimed to investigate academic managers' experiences of leading teleworkers prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their expectations for future leadership in telework. A qualitative study based on interviews with 16 academic middle managers was performed. Findings were analyzed inductively by a phenomenographic research approach.FindingsThe findings show that leading teleworkers was characterized by demands posed by remote and digital communication; regulation and policies; occupational health and safety management; and new norms for leadership.DiscussionIn conclusion, academic institutions need to improve organizational resources for managers' leading teleworkers to facilitate successful leadership and to secure sustainable work conditions for managers as well as for teleworking employees. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4b511a34a55a488ca4ec4ed5f2cc9480 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-771X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Organizational Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-4b511a34a55a488ca4ec4ed5f2cc94802025-08-20T03:28:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Organizational Psychology2813-771X2025-07-01310.3389/forgp.2025.15961721596172Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the futureLinda Widar0Eva Boman1Marina Heiden2Birgitta Wiitavaara3Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Unit of Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenFaculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Occupational Health, Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, SwedenFaculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Occupational Health, Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, SwedenFaculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Occupational Health, Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, SwedenIntroductionTelework is increasing in working life, especially in knowledge intense organizations as academic institutions. Managers are found crucial for performance and wellbeing outcomes in telework, but managers' perspective on leading teleworkers lacks attention.MethodsThis study aimed to investigate academic managers' experiences of leading teleworkers prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their expectations for future leadership in telework. A qualitative study based on interviews with 16 academic middle managers was performed. Findings were analyzed inductively by a phenomenographic research approach.FindingsThe findings show that leading teleworkers was characterized by demands posed by remote and digital communication; regulation and policies; occupational health and safety management; and new norms for leadership.DiscussionIn conclusion, academic institutions need to improve organizational resources for managers' leading teleworkers to facilitate successful leadership and to secure sustainable work conditions for managers as well as for teleworking employees.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/forgp.2025.1596172/fullteleworkmanagersleadershipuniversitiesoccupational healthCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Linda Widar Eva Boman Marina Heiden Birgitta Wiitavaara Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the future Frontiers in Organizational Psychology telework managers leadership universities occupational health COVID-19 |
| title | Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the future |
| title_full | Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the future |
| title_fullStr | Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the future |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the future |
| title_short | Leading teleworkers in academia: managers' experiences and expectations for the future |
| title_sort | leading teleworkers in academia managers experiences and expectations for the future |
| topic | telework managers leadership universities occupational health COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/forgp.2025.1596172/full |
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