Since Covid restrictions have eased, there have been numerous discussions about how workers can be coaxed back into the workplace again. Research from Northeastern suggests that this may be especially tricky for senior managers.
The study reveals that during the later stages of COVID lockdowns, individuals with higher incomes, particularly those in managerial roles, exhibited reduced temporal mobility. This decline in temporal mobility was characterized by a decreased tendency to leave their residences for work, as they increasingly adopted remote working arrangements.
Tracking movement
To develop their findings, the researchers employed anonymized cell phone data, employing it to construct a robust mathematical model that tracked changes in people’s mobility patterns over both time and geographic locations.
In addition to their analysis of anonymized cell phone data, the researchers also incorporated relevant census data to investigate the correlation between various factors, such as geographic location (rural vs. urban) and income levels.
They highlight that high-income workers possess greater bargaining power when it comes to negotiating remote work arrangements.
The research team integrated maps that depicted the United Kingdom aglow in hues of red (indicating spatial dimensions) and blue (reflecting temporal dimensions). Prior to the pandemic’s onset, the visual representation portrayed a synchronized rhythm among commuters, who departed their residences for equivalent durations at approximately uniform times each day.
Changing patterns
During the initial and most stringent phase of lockdown measures, a nearly unanimous adherence to staying at home was observed. Gradually, individuals began to explore outdoor activities such as park strolls or grocery shopping, revealing a distinct divergence in the synchronization of time and space compared to their working patterns.
Regions accommodating a higher concentration of essential workers exhibited a segment that continued to depart from their homes for durations exceeding seven hours, a clear indication of commuting to workplaces. Conversely, residents of affluent locales exhibited a persistent trend of shorter excursions even as lockdown measures eased.
The researchers cross-referenced these patterns with park activity levels, which correspondingly aligned with the identified timeframes. This alignment substantiated that individuals residing in high-income areas predominantly ventured outside for recreational pursuits rather than employment-related obligations.
The situation looks very different in rural areas, where rural workers tended to stick to their original schedules even during the lockdown measures. Where personal limitations did exist was with regard to their movement into bigger cities, such as for shopping or marketing.
