Exploring Barriers and Engagement in Digital Workplaces: An Analysis Spanning the Periods Before, During, and After COVID

In this study, we examine barriers and engagement in digital workplaces with data spanning multiple years from the periods before, during, and after COVID-19. We build on a previous systematic literature review, a survey, and two rounds of interviews spaced 1 year apart to compile a comprehensive list of barriers to digital workplaces and those unique to extreme situations. After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, we resorted to another survey (n = 378) to understand the personal and organizational circumstances now influencing employee engagement and how these compare to the previous periods. Our findings help us understand how the pandemic changed digital workplaces.