Remote working, sustainability and firm performance: an Jonas-inspired research

This study aims to understand the impact of remote working in mountain and inland areas on business performance and the environmental sustainability of the analyzed areas. Environmental sustainability is a key issue in contemporary production processes and organizational discourse: a key example is the recent “Next Generation EU” plan, which aims to support the technological transition as a tool to achieve more sustainable and resilient development. Additionally, this study explores how these variables or their combination can contribute to benefiting work organization, career perspectives, and the creativity and quality of life of workers, from a perspective inspired by Hans Jonas’ call for an ethics for the technology age. Numerous studies have indicated that while remote working allows individuals to benefit from increased work flexibility, promoting individual control over organizational activities, it can simultaneously weaken interpersonal relationships with colleagues and supervisors, leading to professional and spatial isolation.