COVID-19 has altered the existing organizational dynamics. Almost every
sector within a few weeks introduced virtual working, where it was
feasible. Even sectors already practicing work from home with select
groups made it mandatory for all. The study covers the impact of
COVID--19 induced lockdowns on employee productivity in select sectors
of the service industry. Respondents from the BFSI, IT, and Education
sectors were drawn to record their responses. The results have
demonstrated a significant impact of remote working on employee
productivity across sectors and constructs. However, the degree of
impact varied from sector to sector. This paper also highlights issues
in digital adaptation. This study may be considered one of the initial
attempts to investigate the impact of the universalization of remote on
employee productivity in dominant service verticals. The findings
suggest employees have accepted remote working as a feasible alternative
to physical workplaces, since they find remote working provides the
flexibility to balance work and life. The HR managers can apply the
findings from this study to apply remote working as a strategic tool to
attract and retain talent. This paper also contributes to the scant
literature on employee productivity during an extraordinary global
crisis.