Worker Voice and Mutual Gains From Remote Performance Management: Evidence From Digitalized Services in North America and Germany
O'Brady, Sean ; Doellgast, Virginia ; Starcevic, Jelena
Human Resource Management Journal
2025
Early view
1-15
call centre ; work at home ; telework ; digitalisation ; work performance ; workers representation ; human resources management
Personnel management
https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12601
English
"The expansion of remote working arrangements has required managers to adjust their approach to managing performance, as they transition from in-person to technology-mediated tools and practices. Past research has identified negative worker impacts associated with intensified digital monitoring and discipline-based coaching. However, few studies have investigated the antecedents of more worker-friendly arrangements. This paper examines the role of collective worker voice in shaping remote work performance management choices, based on a comparative study of telecommunications call centers in Canada, the United States, and Germany. Findings suggest that strong collective voice, especially when backed by institutional power, fosters a balanced approach to remote performance management by constraining the intensity of electronic performance monitoring and use of disciplinary practices, as well as by supporting more developmental coaching."
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Digital
The ETUI is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ETUI.