Kant on Remote Working: a Moral Defence

Area of Science:

• Business Ethics
• Moral Philosophy
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Pre-pandemic biases against remote work limited its normative consideration.
• The COVID-19 pandemic provided empirical evidence on remote work's impact.
• Kantian business ethics provides a framework for evaluating workplace policies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop Kantian business ethics by arguing for the moral imperative of offering remote work.
• To analyze the ethical implications of remote work through the lens of Kant's categorical imperative.
• To address objections concerning innovation, training, and meaningful work in remote settings.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of Kant's categorical imperative, specifically the humanity formulation.
• Examination of empirical evidence on remote work, particularly post-COVID-19.
• Argumentation and counter-argumentation regarding the ethical permissibility of remote work.

Main Results:

• Denying remote work, when economically feasible, violates the humanity formulation of Kant's categorical imperative.
• Remote work can be ethically mandated if it does not incur unbearable economic losses for employers.
• Objections regarding innovation, training, and meaningful work do not negate the core ethical argument for remote work.

Conclusions:

• Granting remote work is a moral obligation for employers under specific economic conditions.
• Kantian ethics supports worker autonomy and dignity through flexible work arrangements.
• The ethical framework presented addresses practical concerns while upholding fundamental moral principles.