Welcome Back to the Office: Exploring Hybrid Working Among Knowledge Workers

About the Project

After the COVID-19 pandemic (March 11th, 2020 to May 5th, 2023), hybrid working has become the 'normal way of working.' Hybrid working allows particularly knowledge workers to use information and communication technology to carry out their work, both at the (central) office and at other locations, including the private home. Whilst many knowledge workers currently feel entitled to working from home, employers are increasingly looking for ways to motivate their employees to (partially) come back to the office (Gibson et al., 2023). In this regard, Bloom et al. (2023) advise that employers should set up the office as a meeting place (cf. Willemsen, 2020) that satisfies employees’ basic psychological needs. Building on need theories, this study aims to contribute to the societal and scholarly conversation on post-pandemic office designs and employees’ performance and wellbeing by answering the following questions: How do organizations in the post-pandemic context shape their (back-to-office) hybrid work policy?; How do organizations in the post-pandemic context shape their (central) office and how does that relate to employees’ need satisfaction?; How does employees’ performance change in view of changes in their organization’s office design and hybrid work policy?

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Pascale Peters

Duration: 5 years, depending on progress

Investment: Year 1 € 4,250, Years 2 & 3 € 9,750 per year, Years 4 & 5 and possible subsequent years € 3,500 per year. Fees are subject to change, no rights can be derived from this information, visit our website listed below for the latest fee information.

To apply:

This project is only available within our Self-Funded Part-Time PhD program. Application is only possible via our website https://www.nyenrode.nl/en/programs/p/phd-program-(part-time), which also provides further details around the application package, which includes:

• Application essay form (our fillable application essay form)
• Title
• Proposed research question
• Research background & rationale
• Methodology
• Suggested supervisors at Nyenrode
• Personal motivation
• Certified copy of your Master's degree or equivalent
• Copy of corresponding transcript/grade list(s) from your Masters or equivalent
• Curriculum vitae
• Reference letter(s)
• Photo

Contact:

For further information, please visit our website https://www.nyenrode.nl/en/programs/p/phd-program-(part-time) or contact Nyenrode’s PhD School at phd@nyenrode.nl