Emotions in remote or hybrid work in software development teams.

Abstract

In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, software organizations rapidly transitioned to 100% remote work, subsequently embracing a prevalent hybrid model. This study entails a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) that delves into the emotional experiences of software professionals in remote or hybrid work settings. Through a targeted Scopus search, we identified and analyzed 18 pertinent articles, uncovering 55 distinct emotions and well-being aspects. Well-being emerged as the most explored topic, with notable attention to anxiety, motivation, and feelings of overwork, stress, and boredom. While research interest spans across Europe, North America, and Asia, South America, notably, exhibited limited activity. The findings underscore the heightened interest in emotions and well-being during the pandemic for remote workers in the software industry. As a response, our study aims to gauge the sentiments of software company workers operating in a hybrid mode through a survey conducted in two Uruguayan companies. A summary report was created for each company, detailing how employees felt about working from home or in a hybrid setup. Various positive aspects and challenges were reported for both work scenarios. For instance, the social interaction and team building facilitated by office work are highly valued by a significant number of workers, often leading to feelings of happiness and satisfaction. However, this comes at the cost of fatigue and longer working days due to commuting. On the other hand, remote work is appreciated for its comfort and flexible time management, but it is susceptible to interference from home distractions. We underscore the importance of consistently providing individuals with the opportunity to express themselves to foster a healthy work environment.