The Impact of Digitalization on Teleworking Communication and Trust in the Post Epidemic Era

The chapter delves into the unprecedented challenges faced by Chinese enterprises when they were forced to adopt telecommuting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the unique issues that arose from this sudden shift, such as operational and psychological problems not previously encountered in planned telecommuting scenarios. The research focuses on the dynamics of trust and distrust among colleagues and between superiors and subordinates, as well as the changes in communication patterns and their impact on team trust and performance. Through semi-structured interviews with employees from various enterprises, the study uncovers the dynamic transformation of trust and the crucial role of communication strategies in maintaining and enhancing trust in a remote work environment. The findings offer valuable insights into the management of virtual teams in crisis situations, emphasizing the importance of timely communication, positive encouragement, and fair treatment to foster trust and improve organizational commitment and performance.