Teleworking “is here to stay”?

Abstract

Over the last decade advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have significantly changed the world of work, making it possible to work anytime anywhere in many sectors and occupations. This is occurring in the context of a growing knowledge-based and service economy where ICTs are key tools for work. The article emphasizes that the term “telework” encompasses various types of working styles that involve the use of information and communications technology equipment, such as telecommuting, mobile work or self-employed home-based work. There are two dominant theories in occupational health literature that facilitate our understanding of the relationship between telework and occupational health: the job-demands-resources model in occupational health psychology, and macroergonomics systems theory in ergonomics. This article analyzes that telework is not without potential negative health and wellness outcomes. In particular, employees: suffer stress and burnout from the feeling they are expected to be available outside of regular hours, regardless of whether they are actually working; feel frustration over unclear boundaries between work and life; feel isolated and disconnected from their colleagues.It is important to note that if there is to be a significant shift to telework, workers and their managers will need to manage the arrangement consciously. When the same physical space is both home and place of work, the boundary between the two worlds blurs easily, creating conflict and stress. Permanent connectivity of devices promotes an ‘always-on’. However, at the EU and national levels current legislation addresses most of the issues which have been highlighted as potential challenges linked to telework such as working time, health and safety and work-life balance.