Remote Work and Employees’ Productivity in Nigerian Commercial Banks
Evidence from Calabar, Cross River State
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of remote work arrangements on employees’ productivity in commercial banks in Calabar, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined how telecommuting, hybrid scheduling, mobile work arrangements, and home-based operations influence productivity among customer-facing personnel. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 334 employees through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were employed for data interpretation and hypothesis testing. The findings showed that telecommuting had the strongest positive effect on productivity, followed by hybrid scheduling, mobile work arrangements, and home-based operations. These results highlight the growing relevance of technology-enabled flexible work models in sustaining productivity within the Nigerian banking sector. The study contributes to the emerging literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing economy context, demonstrating how remote work modalities can be strategically integrated into banking operations without compromising service delivery. It also extends understanding of remote work by focusing on customer-facing roles, which are often understudied in productivity research. While limited to a single city and a cross-sectional design, the study offers valuable insights for banks seeking to optimise workflow and employee performance in hybrid work environments. Practical recommendations are made for improving digital infrastructure, structured scheduling, mobile platforms, and home-based support systems.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Adediran, K. (2024). Managerial control and remote work practices in Nigerian commercial banks. Journal of Banking and Management Studies, 9(1), 55–71.
Adeyemi, T. (2022). Regulatory compliance and productivity metrics in Nigerian commercial banks. Journal of Banking and Finance Research, 14(2), 88–104.
Akaegbobi, G. N., Mbah, S. I., Anekwe, R. I., & Ngwube, A. C. (2025). Remote work arrangements and employee productivity of fintech firms in Lagos. International Journal of Business and Management Review, 6(2), 1–15.
Alvarez, M., & Chen, R. (2025). Digital transformation and employee productivity in banking. Journal of Banking Technology and Innovation, 12(1), 45-62.
Anderson, D., & Kelliher, C. (2019). Enabling flexibility? Hybrid work practices in financial institutions. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 6(3), 214–231.
Babarinde, S. A., Ocholi, J. O., & Adekunle, J. O. (2024). Impact of virtual work on employees’ wellbeing: Evidence from service industry in Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 11, 650–662. https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2024.1109058 DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2024.1109058
Babatunde, F., & Iyaji, P. I. (2024). The impact of remote work on employee mental health: A study of selected employees of united bank for Africa in Kogi state, Nigeria. Kampala International University Interdisciplinary Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(2), 272-88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59568/KIJHUS-2024-5-2-19
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2007). The job demands–resources model: State of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
Brown, K., & Li, H. (2022). Remote work flexibility and employee retention in Asian banking institutions. Asian Banking and Finance Research Journal, 14(2), 55–72.
Carter, S., & Wilson, R. (2023). Home-based work and employee performance: Digital innovations in the financial services sector. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 34(5), 902–920.
Chen, Y., & Huang, L. (2020). Telecommuting and organisational performance: Exploring the role of digital platforms in financial institutions. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 12(4), 233–248.
Clarke, J., & Holdsworth, L. (2020). Mobility, technology, and work: Exploring the impact of mobile work practices on employee performance. Journal of Business Research, 116, 608–616.
Conti, A. R., & Bianchi, L. M. (2023). Artificial intelligence applications and productivity enhancement in Italian banking. Journal of Financial Innovation Studies, 6(4), 87–103.
Dawodu, A. A., & Ologun, S. S. (2025). Employees’ work engagement and organisational performance: A study of Zenith Bank Ltd, Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos Journal of Banking, Finance & Economic Issues, 6(1), 1–19
Edokobi, T. D., Okpalaniebuo, A. N., & Ezeanokwasa, F. N. (2025). Effect of telework on employee performance among deposit money banks in Anambra State, Nigeria. Tansian University Journal of Arts, Management & Social Sciences, 9(1), 63–81. https://www.acjol.org/index.php/tujamss/article/view/7204
Eze, P., & Okafor, J. (2023). Technology-enabled flexibility and banking productivity: Examining remote work arrangements in Nigeria. International Journal of Business and Social Research, 13(4), 101–116.
Gomez, R. S., & Alvarez, D. P. (2025). Cross-selling efficiency and productivity measurement in Spanish retail banks. Ibero-American Journal of Banking Studies, 5(1), 28–44.
Gonzalez, R., & Ramirez, D. (2022). Mobile work and customer engagement: Evidence from Latin American financial institutions. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 71(7), 2301–2319.
Harris, T., & Collins, R. (2021). Employee autonomy and remote work in financial institutions: Opportunities and risks. Journal of International Banking Studies, 18(2), 77–94.
Johnson, M., & Farndale, E. (2021). The future of work: Hybrid models and their impact on employee outcomes in the banking sector. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 32(12), 2554–2576.
Kim, H., & Park, J. (2019). Job demands, resources, and burnout: Evidence from South Korea’s banking industry. Asian Journal of Business and Psychology, 11(1), 54–69.
Li, X., Wong, M., & Tan, H. (2023). Work from anywhere: Telecommuting, mobility, and employee productivity in Asian financial institutions. Asian Journal of Management Research, 15(2), 145–162.
Li, Y., & Chen, H. (2025). Strategic adaptability and employee productivity in Asian banking institutions. International Journal of Financial Management Studies, 19(1), 55–72.
Miller, R., & Brown, K. (2021). Flexible work systems and the rise of telecommuting in the banking sector. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 11(3), 98–117.
Morrison, K. (2025). Remote work as an operational resilience framework in banking institutions. International Review of Banking Operations, 17(3), 201–219. https://doi.org/10.30027/irbo.2025.17.3.201
Nwankwo, C. (2022). Remote banking operations and employee performance in Nigeria’s digital economy. African Journal of Business and Economic Development, 7(3), 214–229.
Nwankwo, E. A., & Adamu, L. J. (2022). Incentive packages as determinants of employee productivity in microfinance banks in Nigeria. International Journal of Nigerian Economic and Management Research, 10(4), 76–90.
Nwibere, B. (2024). Work-life integration strategies and career success in the Nigerian banking industry. European Scholar Journal, 5(3), 52-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47909/dtr.19
Nwoko, C., & Yazdani, K. (2022). Remote working during the Covid-19 global pandemic and its implications for employee motivation: Some evidence from Nigeria through the lens of self-determination theory. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 4(2), 423-434 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32996/jbms.2022.4.2.31
Obomeghia, A. K., & Onuoha, B. C. (2023). Remote work environment and employee performance of deposit money banks in Rivers State. International Academic Journal of Business Systems and Economics, 8(8), 1–15. https://www.arcnjournals.org/images/2414252771881.pdf
Odubajo, A. I. (2023). Effect of remote working on employee’s productivity in a Covid-19 pandemic era (A study of United Bank for Africa). African Journal of Business and Management, 4(2), 67-81.
Okon, E., & Nwosu, F. (2021). Transaction efficiency and employee productivity in Nigeria’s banking industry. African Journal of Business Performance, 11(3), 201–217.
Onyemere, I., Alo, O., Origho, O., & Okeke, A. (2024). The adoption of remote working practices in the Nigerian banking sector: Are they ready? International Journal of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, 13(3–4), 91–115. https://doi.org/10.32327/IJMESS/13.3-4.2024.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32327/IJMESS/13.3-4.2024.5
Oriloye, G. L. (2025). The role of remote work on employee retention among Nigerian banks. Political Science and Security Studies Journal, 5(2), 67-81. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8400337
Park, J., Lee, S., & Kim, H. (2024). Hybrid work arrangements and organisational productivity: Evidence from South Korean banks. Asia Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 16(1), 45–62.
Patel, R. (2024). Innovation and adaptability as drivers of employee productivity in global banking. Journal of International Business and Finance, 22(4), 144–162.
Pepple, G. J., Iwuanyanwu, C. I., Fajulugbe, A. T., Agim, J. J., & Oben-Etchi, G. (2025). Flexible work arrangements and employee retention in Access Bank Nigeria Plc, Calabar. Multidisciplinary Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 2(2), 1–20.
Prasetyaningtyas, S. W., Heryanto, C., Nurfauzi, N. F., & Tanjung, S. B. (2021). The effect of work from home on employee productivity in banking industry. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, 19(3), 507-521. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jam.2021.019.03.05
Silva, P., & Martins, A. (2024). Mobile work and organisational outcomes: The role of digital platforms in the banking sector. European Management Review, 21(1), 89–104.
Tanaka, M. (2025). Redefining productivity in the digital era: Remote work in Japanese banking institutions. Asian Journal of Management and Finance, 20(1), 33–49.
Thompson, P., & Brill, A. (2019). Home as the new workplace: Remote operations and organisational productivity. Journal of Management Studies, 56(8), 1551–1572.
Umeh, K. (2023). Service delivery and employee productivity in the Nigerian banking sector. Nigerian Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 8(2), 67–84.
Yamamoto, K., & Suzuki, T. (2021). Remote monitoring systems and productivity measurement in Japanese banks. Journal of Asian Banking and Finance, 15(3), 211–226.
Zhang, Y., & Liu, H. (2021). Working from home and employee productivity: Evidence from financial institutions in East Asia. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 38(4), 1237–1256.
Article Sidebar
