Importance of virtual interpersonal communication on employee motivation during Covid-19 pandemic: An exploratory study on women college teachers in Kolkata, West Bengal

COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted on every aspect of mankind. Education sector is not left behind. Many education organizations around the world are closed now. The whole education system specially teaching-learning, knowledge sharing, evaluation methods etc. have been shifted from offline to online platform. Teachers are forced to work from home and they persistently trying to adopt new modes of virtual teaching. The new normal working process is challenging for them in keeping their motivation to work. Lack of physical face to face communication with students, colleagues, the Principals is affecting in teachers’ motivation to work. This research study is an explorative case study and the sample was selected by using purposive sampling technique. For this study 9 female teachers of a Kolkata based college, West Bengal were chosen. They were interviewed on telephone to collect data. In-depth interview derived findings are divided into themes and discussed. This study will be beneficial for the higher education authority to concentrate on the role of virtual interpersonal communication in respect of teachers’ motivation.