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Few Romanian companies implemented remote work before the pandemic breakdown. The employees’ experience with telecommuting started or for some increased suddenly in 2020 due to the lockdown restrictions. Therefore, the focus of this study was to examine the perception of employees from the perspective of well-being and work-life balance during telework. The quantitative approach was applied in the case of two companies and data was collected through a survey. The findings identified the influence of isolation from colleagues and friends on the state of loneliness which could lead to depression or tension, additionally affecting anxiety. These than are linked to the well-being and work-life balance of teleworkers. In reverse the state of calm and relaxation, and the condition of being active and energetic boost the employees’ well-being. Also, the relaxed home working environment that could also include pets and time spent on personal activities enhance the work-life balance. Thus, the results emphasize the respondents’ preference for telecommuting is the outcome of their awareness of work-life balance and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pandemic affected significantly the economies worldwide. The SMEs represent the backbone of all economies as they are the main source of added-value, innovation/progress, development and they also generate a significant number of jobs. Besides this, it is a known fact that they are very vulnerable to the environment in which they operate as they do not possess enough resources and power to face the important threats such as those caused by the COVID-19. Thus, the main purpose of this paper is to present some insight on how the Romanian entrepreneurs were affected by the crisis caused by Covid-19. Through interviews we collected data concerning the main problems they faced, the changes that have made on their business model and how their business were affected in terms of number of employees, turnover, product/service portfolios or investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 outbreak forced organisations to shift from face-to-face work to telecommuting in a very short time. The employers and employees had to quickly to perform tasks at least like before lockdown. Therefore, the focus of this study was to examine the main determinants of employees' perceived communication and telework satisfaction. The data was gathered from employees of different companies. The quantitative approach was implemented to analyse the subject. The findings show a constructive influence of the support offered by employers to employees who have to adopt digital communication. The adaptation of mediated communication impacts the teleworkers' tasks performance in terms of collaborative activities implicating colleagues and supervisors. The teleworkers' job performance is positively affecting employees' perception of satisfactory digital communication. The family conflicts during telecommuting are not difficult to manage, thus telework is appropriate and digital communication favourable. The teleworkers work-life balance is predicted by the perceived satisfaction with the mediated communication experience through the communication channels used. The findings also emphasize the respondents' preference for future teleworking. This study findings serve further research and employers' approach of communication with and between teleworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 outbreak forced educational institutions to shift from face-to-face to online teaching-learning in a very short time. The students and teachers had to learn by doing and to adapt quickly. Therefore, the focus of this study was to examine the main determinants of students' perceived learning experience and satisfaction with the online classes. The data was gathered from bachelors' students. The quantitative approach was implemented to analyse the subject. The findings show positive influence of faculty support, course design and students' involvement on the students' perceived learning experience through the e-learning platform and online classes. The student satisfaction with online teaching-learning is predicted by the perceived learning experience through the e-learning platform and online classes. The findings also emphasize the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs), as in the digital era the use of e-learning platforms is essential for the educational institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic has significantly affected international tourism and in order to reach the level of travel recorded in 2019, a series of measures and strategies are needed that take into account the new perspective of tourists on travel. In this context, the primary purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the effect that COVID-19 has on travel activity preferences, subdividing the young tourists, and most important, how their travel behaviors changed following the pandemic. A questionnaire-based survey has been conducted on consumers of tourist services aged 18-29 years of various nationalities. The key topics investigated were the travel motivations, the criteria according to which they choose the destinations, the type of tourist destination chosen, the average length of stay and activities they prefer to do while traveling. It was analyzed if these preferences changed during the pandemics and among Romanian and foreign young tourists. As young tourists represent a significant segment of international tourism, it was considered that is important for the managers to know how consumers' behaviors and preferences changed, so they can adapt to them in an effort to reach the pre-pandemic levels of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virtual work has been implemented in some areas more than others, and particularly in information and communication technology field several years before the pandemic. But, due to the lockdowns while the Covid-19 pandemic, imposed remote work was a new experience for many. This research examines, by the use of a survey, the benefits and the challenges of telework. The respondents confirmed those elements to specific degrees answering to the closed questions and mentioned their perspectives in the open questions. The study focuses on items concerning employees and employer while telecommuting, highlighting their work performance in terms of leading, communicating and accomplishing the tasks. Productivity, work-life balance, wellbeing, virtual leadership and communication, and the preference for future teleworking are some of the aspects detailed. The findings show correlations between those elements, the preference for continue virtual working is directly linked to work-life balance influenced by remote work productivity, time management efficiency, concentration capacity, and depending on safety and protection measures in the telework system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This period of mandated remote work has been challenging the Romanian employees to adept to the new paradigm of telework for most of them. While prior to COVID-19 pandemic employees were accustom with the work environment and its variables, they were suddenly replaced. The psychological place for restoration, called home, got invaded and occupied by working life. In this time remote workers were learning to adapt to the new way of working from home and balancing it with everyday life. While employers are searching for new and performing approach to accomplish their goals, employees are addressing new conditions affecting their working performance and personal or family life. The study presents and analyses data of two surveys conducted by the "European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions". The impact and consequences of telework on work-life balance and well-being of workers are discussed, seeing that the working time and work intensity dimensions have a direct influence. The search for sustainable telework requires customized working conditions, adapted skills, tackling emerging risks and involving all stakeholders in Romanian working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research has the purpose of studying change agent profile in relation with employees' behaviour regarding changes in organization. The paper outlines change agent qualifying characteristics for leading employees through changes, approaches personnel needs and behaviours, also recommends methods to go beyond resistance to change. The relation change agent - employees and each side successful leading skills are discussed and evidenced how influence organization capacity to change and achieve performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is commonly accepted nowadays that to achieve performance companies strive to innovate in this constantly changing economic environment. Therefore, it is a necessity for each manager to know how to increase employees' creativity in order to have sufficient and brilliant ideas for solving problems in innovative ways. This paper underlines the positive and negative factors influencing creativity from an individual, group and organizational perspective. Enhancing creativity within each organization member involves understanding of what creativity is, how it relates to physical, psychological and social influences and to understand how creativity happens. Creativity has its stages and factors required to release the innovative idea. As every innovation process starts with an idea, understanding what influences the mind and how the idea appears is crucial for individual and organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]