Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Industrial and Organizational (I-O) psychology explores the intersection of human behavior and the workplace, encompassing employee selection, organizational social dynamics, and human factors in design.

The chapter introduces the complexities of work environments by examining the Social Security Administration's 2019 decision to end a telework program. Management cited operational backlogs and increased wait times as justification, highlighting the challenges of balancing employee flexibility with organizational productivity and administrative efficiency.

The text raises critical questions regarding the costs and benefits of telework, particularly in the context of global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted a re-evaluation of remote work policies as a health safety measure.