Work from Home Management and Work-Life Balance in the Midst of a Health Crisis, Impact on Life Domain and Work: An Exploratory Study on Cameroon

Abstract

In order to reduce the spread of the virus, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has rocked the world, has caused many workers to no longer come to their places of work. This has led employers and employees to seek alternative working methods, especially in a growing and emerging economy like Cameroon's. Due to the pandemic, most, if not all, workers have to work from home (WFH). As a result, WFH has become a political priority for most governments. In doing so, the terms and conditions must be worked out keeping in mind the practicality of both employers and employees. However, this current situation offers a unique insight into the efficiency of working from home and could play a critical role in future policies that reshape the current structure of working hours, perhaps allowing more flexibility. Using an exploratory framework and SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis, this study examines the continuing experience of the employer and employees in Cameroon. A critical overview and related recommendations have been developed for future policy decisions. It will also critically examine whether this working arrangement will remain as a transitional element responding to exceptional circumstances, or whether it could be a permanent arrangement.

Keywords: work from home, work-life balance, covid-19, Cameroon, pandemic,.

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-16-03

Publication date:August 31^st 2021