NSF Rapid Response Grant on the Rapid Transition to Remote Work

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced much of the country’s workforce into remote work arrangements. With the need for social distancing, the ability to continue essential business functions through effective remote work arrangements is a key means for addressing the global health crisis. However, many organizations are unprepared to accommodate a remote workforce and likewise lack insight into best practices as to how to promote continued productivity and well-being of the workforce in such arrangements. In addition, many workers are struggling with balancing work and nonwork issues such as caring for dependent children who are schooling virtually due to the pandemic. Moreover, this challenge is not likely to be over soon based on the lack of virus containment in the U.S. Given that continuation of work operations is critical to the nation’s economic stability and social distancing is imperative for the health of the nation, there is an urgent need for research on remote work. This RAPID grant was designed to address this need.