IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON IT EMPLOYEES’ JOB PERFORMANCE – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The research paper examines how the job performance of IT employees changed during the pandemic when remote work was the predominant mode of operation for more than a year. The study also investigates how the different aspects of job performance have evolved during the research. Quantitative data was collected through a longitudinal survey conducted in 2019 and then repeated in 2021. In the first phase, the sample consisted of 126 international respondents working in over 25 different IT companies, while in the second phase, 149 respondents from over 60 different organizations were covered. The data for the study has been analysed by using one-dimensional mean value comparison, correlation, and regression analysis. In the first phase of the survey conducted before the pandemic, quality of work, effectiveness, and value-added performance have the strongest influence on job performance, at the same time employees’ productivity and proactiveness did not show a direct impact on their overall performance. In the second phase of the study conducted in the summer of 2021, the results show that employees’ perception of their value-added performance to the organization no longer impacts their overall performance. Additionally, during the pandemic, a downward trend was observed in all the elements of job performance, with the most significant decrease in employees’ overall performance, quality of work, and effectiveness. The results of the study can be compelling to different levels of the organisations, as good job performance of employees is significant for the performance results of teams, business units, and organisations. Understanding employees’ job performance, its elements, and how it changes over time, especially during the pandemic, can help organisations thrive and develop a more productive workforce.