MANAGING A REMOTE WORKFORCE: PERSPECTIVES OF HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALISTS. A QUALITATIVE STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbnegotia.2026.1.01Keywords:
remote work, teleworking, human resources management, RomaniaAbstract
In the context of the substantial share of employees currently working remotely, human resource (HR) specialists are increasingly concerned with the implications of this work arrangement for HR management practices. Accordingly, the primary aim of this paper is to investigate the specific characteristics of human resource management within remote work systems, from the perspective of HR specialists in Romania. The research objectives are: (1) to determine the specific features of managing employees in a remote work environment, with particular emphasis on maintaining work motivation, ensuring effective team functioning, and monitoring and assessing work performance; and (2) to identify the principal benefits and challenges that the implementation of a remote work system entails for organizations. To achieve these objectives, an empirical qualitative study was conducted. Primary data were collected between March and April 2024 through four semi-structured interviews with HR specialists employed in organizations in which a significant proportion of staff work remotely. The main findings of this qualitative empirical study indicate that, within the organizations represented by the interviewed specialists, specific techniques and practices have been implemented to sustain the motivation of employees working remotely, to support the effective functioning of their teams, and to improve processes related to monitoring and assessing employee performance.
JEL classification: J24, J81
Article History: Received: December 22, 2025; Reviewed: February 24, 2026;
Accepted: March 17, 2026; Available online: March 24, 2026.
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