UC professor offers suggestions to increase commitment from remote workers
Scott Dust writes in Fast Company that employers need to get creative
The emergence of remote work has been beneficial for both employers and employees but has left virtual employees feeling less committed to their organizations, a University of Cincinnati professor wrote for Fast Company.
Scott Dust
Scott Dust, an associate professor of management in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, wrote that employers can build affective commitment with their virtual employees. Affective commitment entails a sense of emotional attachment and identification with the organization’s mission and culture, increasing engagement and reducing turnover.
“Organizations that want affective commitment will need to focus on face-to-face onboarding, regular on-sites, and building familiarity through technology,” Dust wrote.
Dust also said employers should get creative. Benefits outside of work are good ways to promote affective commitment, he suggested.
“To successfully retain virtual employees will take much more than a competitive salary,” Dust wrote.
Featured image at top courtesy of Unsplash.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
The psychological weight of money
April 7, 2026
Psychology and neuroscience website PsyPost highlighted research led by Sharmeen Merchant, doctoral candidate in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, that suggests a man’s sense of fulfillment at work is intertwined with his partner’s views on money.
'Born to Bowl' docu-series from CCM alum Brian Lazarte airs on HBO
April 7, 2026
The HBO Original five-part documentary series "Born to Bowl," directed by CCM Media Production alumnus Brian Lazarte and James Lee Hernandez, from A24 and executive produced by Ben Stiller, and narrated by Liev Schreiber, airs its final episode on Monday, April 13. It will be available to watch on HBO as well as stream on HBO Max.
'My health is priceless'
April 7, 2026
Weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are changing more than waistlines — they're quietly transforming how people spend money, what they prioritize and who can afford better health. As Local 12/WKRC-TV recently reported, for some patients, the medications are life-changing. For others, the cost can be overwhelming.