Remote work for female professionals in Sri Lankan construction industry: challenges and expectations

Abstract

The construction industry is still male-dominated, and female professionals have to face challenges related to work–life balance, organizational culture, and flexibility in work arrangements. The necessity of remote working was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating the opportunities to address these challenges. However, the adoption of remote working in Sri Lankan construction is still limited and underexplored. This study examines the challenges faced by female professionals in remote work and evaluates their expectations regarding organizational support to facilitate effective and sustainable remote working arrangements. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and a questionnaire was administered to collect the data from female architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors who are working in Sri Lankan construction industry. In data analysis, one sample t test was utilized to identify the critical challenges and expectations. The results revealed that workload increases and expectations to be “always available online” and “Lack of resources and facilities (Proper technical tools, network, etc.)” are the critical challenges, and “create scheduled virtual “check-ins” for all team members to share updates” and “Promote digital wellness practices (scheduled break times, no-meeting hours)” are the most critical expectations of female professionals in the Sri Lankan construction industry regarding remote working.. These study findings provide a better understanding for the top-level managers in Sri Lankan construction industry to implement effective remote working facilities for the professionals.