Flexible Working and Employee Performance: A Morrison Dissertation

This dissertation explores the impact of flexible working arrangements on employee performance, specifically within the UK retail sector, using Morrison as a case study during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study begins with an introduction outlining the background, organizational context of Morrison, significance of the problem, statement of purpose, and research questions. It aims to evaluate how flexible work affects employee performance, examining the benefits and challenges, and recommending strategies to mitigate issues. The dissertation is structured into five chapters: introduction, literature review, research methodology, data analysis and findings, and conclusion and recommendations. The research questions address the significance of flexible work during the pandemic, associated benefits and challenges, and the relationship between flexible work and employee performance at Morrison. The methodology includes both primary and secondary research, with the fourth chapter focusing on data analysis using surveys. The final chapter will provide conclusions and recommendations for Morrison and other retail companies to improve employee performance and adapt to flexible working environments.

Dissertation

Title: To investigate the impact of flexible working arrangement upon the employee
performance at the time of pandemic within UK retail sector: A study on Morrison
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1. Background of the research
The entire world has gone through the pandemic and it affect the entire market and social
life of people negatively. From 2020 onward due to ongoing covid-19 outbreak that has shown
how quickly industries need to react with advancing HR related matters and focus upon the
employee performance so that they can support the firm to align with the company’s objectives.
As the entire world is shut down their business and start offering remote working arrangement so
that the work has not suffer at its worst (Cavaliere and et.al., 2021). However, there were many
states that allow only essential businesses to keep their physical locations open but rest of all
might perform work from home. As social distancing orders are lifted and business started
reopen then employees are requests for the flexible hours and remote work arrangements so that
they will remain safe and balance their work life as well. Flexible working arrangement is that
arrangement where employees can perform work as per their suitability and this is rise at the
time of pandemic where employees can manage work as well as their personal life that might be
considered as a key motivating factor for the people.
In addition to this, with the help of flexible working arrangement that allow employees to
negotiate with a less rigid working that improve the work-life balance so that they can contribute
to their company in an effective manner (Choi, 2018). The current study also shed a light upon
the impact of using flexible working arrangement upon the employee performance so that
company might attain the defined aim of the study. This in turn assist to create a better outcome
because employees will be retained and engage for the longer term. Therefore, it has been stated
that through an effective flexible working environment, employees of the company might retain
and improve the performance as well. So it has reflected that after pandemic, the trend of flexible
working arrangement increases and this causes a direct impact over the business performance.

2. Organisational Background
The entire study is based upon Morrison which is one of forth largest supermarket chain
in UK and currently the company have more than 500 supermarkets at different locations which
entails that it has a brand image at global level. The chosen company founded in 1899 by
William Morrison who started the business by selling egg and butter stall at England. However,
until 2004, Morrison store locations were primarily focused in North of England, but with the
takeover of Safeway the presence of the company keep increases which reflected that it has an
ability to sustain the brand image at global level. The products offered by the firm included Food
and drink, clothing, florist, petrol, books, magazine and different homeware products. The net
revenue of the firm in 2020 is GB£17500 million and there are around 11000 employees working
with the firm at different locations.
3. Significance of the Problem
The present study will be beneficial to the researcher who wants to conduct the study in
the similar topic and this in turn makes them able to understand the concept of flexible working
environment so that they can improve the results. Also, with the help of outcome generated from
the present study will be beneficial for the Morrison and this in turn assist to create a better
outcome because the company actually implement the strategies which is suggested in order to
meet the defined aim. Also, it has been also examining that other retail companies operated in the
same factor also get benefitted from the same in order to generate a better outcome and improve
the business performance. Further, the study would be important for other researchers also who
are conducting the research in related area such as flexible working arrangement, factors
affecting employee’s performance during pandemic, etc.
4. Statement of Purpose
The motivation behind conducting this research is to get the degree in research along with
the benefits associated with its consequences such as skill development and advancement of
current knowledge level. Also, the purpose involves the determination of how the flexible
working arrangement resulting from the advent of Covid – 19 has affected the performance of
employees within the retail sector by giving specific consideration to Morrison’s employees.
Accordingly, the researcher has identified flexible working arrangement as a research issue to
understand how it has affect employee’s performance during the pandemic. Therefore, the

researcher aims to highlight the benefits & challenges of flexible working arrangement, its
relationship with that of employee performance and at last to recommend ways of how
companies within the retail sector like Morrison’s could come up with the challenges arising on
account of flexible working arrangement.
5. Statement of the Problem
With the sudden emergence of pandemic in 2019 and continuing in the following years,
businesses are forced to adopt flexible work arrangement in terms of allowing their employees
for remote working. However, employers and suggestion are hesitated in ensuring that the
telecommuting would supposed to be release favorable outcomes for the company. In other
words, managers are confused with respect to ensuring that the telecommuting will not be
injurious to organizational productivity. Therefore, the problem that this study would consider
involves identification of how employee’s performance could be affected due to flexible working
arrangement required to be implemented as a result of pandemic Covid – 19.
6. Aim(s) and Objectives
The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of using flexible working arrangement
upon the employee performance at the time of pandemic within Morrison.
Objectives:
 To understand the concept of flexible working arrangement during Covid-19
 To critically evaluate the benefits and challenges associated with the flexible working
arrangement within UK retail industry
 To assess the relationship between using flexible working arrangement upon the
employee performance within Morrison.
 To recommend the best ways through which challenges faced by the company can be
mitigated in order to improve the employee performance.
7. Research Questions
Q1: What is the significance of flexible working arrangement during Covid-19?
Q2: What are the benefits and challenges associated with the flexible working arrangement
within UK retail industry?

Q3: What is the relationship between using flexible working arrangement upon the employee
performance within Morrison?
8. Dissertation structure
There are five chapters included within the research which are as mentioned below:
Chapter 1, introduction:
This is the first chapter which provide a brief overview of the research because other
chapters are completely based upon the same because aim and objectives are derived in this
section. The chapter also include the background of the research which help to determine about
the flexible working arrangement within the company. Along with this, research questions had
drawn which need to be addressed by considering different books and articles, The significance
of the research problem has also been drawn which assist to determine the reason for conducting
the research and benefits associated with the same.
Chapter 2, literature review:
The second and most important chapter which is entirely based upon the secondary
research. In this, themes will be developed on the basis of research objectives that helps to create
a better outcome and improve the results so that effective outcome can be generated. In this,
books, journal and online websites has used where articles published after 2017 and this in turn
assist to develop brief thesis.
Chapter 3, Research methodology:
The chapter helps to determine the methods that support the research to meet the defined
aim and objectives. In this, scholar mainly identify the methods which include philosophy, type,
approach, data collection method etc so that effective outcome can be generated. With the help
of this chapter, investigator is able to meet the defined aim because it provides ways through
which the results can be measured in an accurate manner.
Chapter 4, data analysis and findings:
Another important chapter which is based upon primary research that helps to create a
better outcome. In this, different themes and charts has drawn which enable readers to

understand the views of people so that research questions can be addressed. Also, it has been
identified with the help of this chapter, scholar is able to determine the views of employees
pertaining to the flexible working environment so that effective outcome can be generated. This
is entirely based upon the primary research in which survey method has been used that assist to
analyse the responses from questionnaire.
Chapter 5, conclusion and recommendations:
Last chapter which provide summary of entire results that helps to identify whether the
research aim and objectives are met or not. Also, with the help of present section, scholar
provide conclusion of an entire research which in turn help to generate a better outcome. Along
with this, suggestions has also provided which can be adopted by Morrison or other companies
operating in retail sector in order to make effective decision and improve the overall
performance. This in turn assist to retain employees at the time of pandemic and improve the
brand image of a firm as well.

REFERENCES
Cavaliere, L. P. L., and et.al., 2021. The Impact of Part-Time and Full-Time Work on
Employees' Efficiency the Importance of Flexible Work Arrangements. Turkish Online
Journal of Qualitative Inquiry. 12(7). pp.9580-9613.
Choi, S., 2018. Managing flexible work arrangements in government: Testing the effects of
institutional and managerial support. Public Personnel Management. 47(1). pp.26-50.