Remote work and employee productivity in government ministries, Uganda a case of ministry of public service.

Abstract

The study examined the effect of remote work on employee productivity in mainstream government ministries, a case of ministry of public service. The objectives of the study were; to examine the effect of telecommuting on employee productivity at Ministry of Public Service in Uganda, to determine the influence of digital communication on employee productivity at Ministry of Public Service in Uganda and to determine the effect of cloud-based document management on employee productivity at Ministry of Public Service in Uganda. The study adopted an abductive reasoning process within an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, beginning with quantitative data collection and analysis followed by qualitative inquiry to deepen understanding of remote work and employee productivity at the Ministry of Public Service (MOPS). A case study strategy was employed using a cross-sectional approach, targeting a population of 150 staff from which a stratified sample of 108 respondents was derived using Taro Yamane’s formula. Data collection methods included questionnaires, interviews, and document review, with instruments such as structured survey questionnaires, interview guides, and a document review checklist. Data was processed through editing, coding, and analysis using SPSS for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data, with results presented in tables and narratives. The results showed that telecommuting has a weak but statistically significant positive effect on employee productivity (r = .195, p = .004; F = 3.960, p = .004). In contrast, digital communication exhibited a weak and statistically insignificant relationship (r = .073, p = .463; F = 0.542, p = .463; β = 0.082, t = 0.736, p = .463), implying it does not independently enhance productivity. Meanwhile, cloud-based document management demonstrated a strong positive and significant influence (r = 0.495, p < 0.01; F = 32.431, p < 0.001; β = 0.515, t = 5.695, p < 0.001), highlighting its critical role in boosting efficiency, collaboration, and performance at MOPS. The study concludes that telecommuting, digital communication, and cloud-based document management collectively enhance employee productivity at MOPS by improving flexibility, collaboration, and workflow efficiency. It recommends that the Ministry establish clear telecommuting policies, invest in reliable digital infrastructure, and promote digital literacy to maximize the benefits of remote work and communication. Additionally, secure and well-maintained cloud-based systems should be implemented to streamline document management, foster real-time collaboration, and support organizational performance and digital transformation.