WinWin4WorkLife webinar on remote work: boosting productivity, killing innovation?
To celebrate the Global Work from Home Day, the first WinWin4WorkLife webinar on remote work brought together around 30 participants to discuss the impact of this new and increasingly prevalent work arrangement on employees’ productivity and innovativeness, from the perspective of both employers and employees.
This webinar was organised on 10 April 2026 by WinWin4WorkLife coordinator LISER.
The session began with a presentation by Davide Rigo (University of Birmingham & LSE) on a study he conducted with Riccardo Crescenzi and Manickam Valliappan (both LSE) examining the digital and managerial capabilities that companies need to invest in for successful remote working. Using data collected from UK companies in 2025, they demonstrated that early adoption and targeted training can help firms realis productivity gains. However, collaboration and knowledge-sharing remain the primary challenges of remote working with regard to innovation.
Next, Mihails Hazans (University of Latvia, BICEPS, IZA@LISER) presented a study he had conducted with Nicolas Gavoille (BICEPS, SSE Riga) into the impact of employees’ personality traits on their productivity and their willingness to work remotely. Using data collected in Latvia in 2021, they revealed that conscientiousness is positively associated with reporting higher productivity. Furthermore, conscientiousness and openness to experience were found to be positively linked with the willingness to work remotely post-pandemic.
In the final presentation of the day, Ludivine Martin (LISER, CREM, IZA@LISER) shared WinWin4WorkLife initial findings, which she had co-authored with Laetitia Hauret (LISER). Using data from Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovakia collected in 2025, they examined the management practices necessary for companies to be confident in the productivity and innovativeness of remote workers. They revealed that a favourable attitude towards working-from-home boosts the perception of productivity, which is reinforced in employee-centric organisations. Working-from-home does not hinder innovation if employers adopt such an employee-centric organisational structure.
Based on discussions with the audience, it is clear that both employee and employer perspectives are necessary in order to examine the real impacts of remote working on productivity and innovation.
Successful remote working depends on organisational investment in managing remote workers. Empowerment, trust and knowing well the staff are key for companies.
🌍 Global Work from Home Day Webinar Remote Work: Boosting Productivity, Killing Innovation?
Remote work is often associated with higher productivity, but research shows that these benefits depend on specific conditions that are not yet fully understood. At the same time, much less is known about how remote work affects creativity and innovation within firms. This webinar will bring together leading researchers to discuss new evidence on the relationship between remote work, productivity, and innovation. 💡
🎤 Speakers
Ludivine Martin Research Scientist, Labour Market Department, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) and IZA@LISER How do High-Performance Work Practices shape Employers’ Perceptions of Productivity and Innovativeness? The Mediating Role of Working-from-Home Friendliness
Davide Rigo Assistant Professor in Business Economics, Department of Management, University of Birmingham Work from Home and Firm Productivity: The Role of ICT and Size
Mihails Hazans Professor of Econometrics, University of Latvia, Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies, and IZA@LISER Personality Traits, Remote Work and Productivity
