DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY FOR WORK AFTER HOURS AMID COVID-19: THE CASE OF PUBLIC SECTOR IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

In Lithuania the implementation of telework in public sector is not very prominent. However, amid COVID-19 and national lockdown situation new measures had to be taken and in some public sector entities telework was introduced for the first time. With implementation of this new work mode, digital connectivity for work after hours became a prominent practice. To evaluate how this work model shift influenced employees (why they work and what outcomes such work generates), a qualitative research method, interviews, was applied in case of 2 public sector enti-ties in Lithuania where telework was not considered to be a normal practice. Even though being a pilot study, the results of this research revealed that after the introduction of telework and given the access to digital technologies for work related matters, employees tend to experience increased work engagement, have more flexibility to manage their work time and undesirable outcomes of such work model are not as negative and severe as can be predicted. This case study introduces the topic not explored in depth heretofore and suggests ingenious conclusions on the matter. Re-sults of this study support and contradict previous literature and propose additional insights. One of the most important practical implications refers to the findings that introduction of telework for the first time in public sector has more benefits than undesired outcomes with only insignificant undesirable outcomes.