How Essential is Flexibility in the Workplace for Employee Motivation at Private Universities in Jeddah? A Comparison Prior to And During Covid-19

Abstract

Motivation is the driving force behind human actions. It comprises the factors that contribute to behavioral patterns, such as emotional, social, and cognitive variables. Employee motivation may have significantly changed due to the unfortunate events at the conclusion of the 2019 calendar year. However, due to the current wave of changes, numerous employees now prefer a hybrid work environment that, thanks to its flexibility, has acted as a source of motivation for some employees in private educational institutions. The objectives in this research were to discover the many facets of workplace flexibility. Second, to identify the many components of workplace motivation, and to finally investigate the relationship between the two. This research used an online survey method to collect data to evaluate the extent to which flexibility is perceived essential for motivation of employees working in private universities in Jeddah, and if there is a significant difference prior to and during COVID-19. After receiving 40 respondents and inputting the survey results into SPSS to analyse and interpret the data, the main finding was that employees are more likely to be motivated when they have flexibility in their workplace with particular inputs, such as the confidence of their manager or a supportive colleague. The outcomes indicated that individuals do not need to simply pursue higher positions in their employment since they value flexibility in their lives, as well as various aspects such as gaining their manager's confidence and obtaining incentives.