Abstract
Remote working and hybrid working, as it has evolved into over time, have been considered the new normal in all sectors during and after the pandemic. They brought their disadvantages as well as advantages and kept the people in all sectors busy with researching on how to best adapt their employees and companies into the new normal. The maritime sector is among those which have tried to find the best for the benefit of both the employees and the companies. This sector differs from other sectors in that it has employees both at sea and on land, and it needs to strike a balance that will protect the interests of both parties. In this chapter, the problems faced by the maritime sector workers especially in the context of the pandemic were examined, the measures taken to solve the problems experienced by seafarers were focused on, and teleworking as a solution for land workers was discussed. Finally, the effects of remote working on work-life balance and motivation were studied, and productivity-enhancing methods that could be accepted by both parties were suggested.
TopBackground
Despite the problems likely to be caused by remote working, there is one thing clear: Remote working, which became widespread during the pandemic period, will take a big place in the future of the sector. Authorities realizing this have already started to investigate ways to clear out the problems that are likely to be caused by it and improve conditions their workers have. A lot of studies focusing on the good and bad sides of remote working have been conducted. Interviews with both employers and employees have been done, so the problems they have had were tried to be identified. The ultimate goal is to determine them precisely and take necessary precautions to prevent them.
Seafaring is a unique and demanding job since life on board has a lot of hardships such as working and living at the same place for a long time, being in the company of the people that you may not get along well or being away from home and family. Seafarers know all these hardships before they choose seafaring as a career and they are prepared to bear all these hardships. Unfortunately, the pandemic period made this hard job even harder since the staff on board couldn't disembark the ship at anchor because of health concerns. That means they needed extra help to cope with their problems or to boost their morale. It is a must for the shipping companies to make use of modern technology and take every possible effort to keep the mood of the seafarers high. Another effort to solve this problem can come from the captain of the ship. The captain should know all seafarers on board very well and realize any change of behaviour that they have so that s/he may give the right reaction at the right time and solve the potential problems and motivate them.
As for the ashore units of shipping companies, most jobs can be done fully or partly at home. Remote working which is also called teleworking requires the job functions to be clearly identified and all tasks to be determined beforehand. Major advancements in information and communication technology have allowed and encouraged alternative work arrangements. It is important to determine which jobs or tasks they are and when physical presence is necessary. Today, most tasks can be carried out away from the office thanks to the possibilities provided by modern technologies and digital tools.
Key Terms in this Chapter
On Board: On a ship.
Hybrid Working: A working method which is not totally remote. People go to work on some certain days of the week, they work remotely on the other days.
Motivation: The process by which individuals act with their own desires and desires to achieve a specific goal.
Seafarer: The captain, officer, crew and other people working on the ship based on a service contract.
Work-Life Balance: Equal prioritization of one's personal life needs and his/her professional needs.
Ashore Units: Units of the maritime sector which are placed on land.
Remote Working: Remote working means that employees continue to do their work from home or outside the workplace with technological communication tools without coming to the workplace.