Workplace harassment in psychosocial risks and teleworking in times of health crisis

Abstract

This study seeks to reflect on the relationship between teleworking, workplace harassment, and psychosocial risks in the context of labor resolutions adopted in Ecuador in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose is to identify the relationship between mobbing in the telework modality and its effect on psychosocial risks. The following questions arise: how does mobbing manifest itself in telework? How not to confuse the results of teleworking with mobbing? Can mobbing be considered a psychosocial risk factor? For this, a systematic review of the literature and previous studies of the proposed variables and the analysis of the information from the Ministerio de Trabajo in Ecuador on a survey was conducted to evaluate the consequences of teleworking on workers. Despite the limitation of knowledge and relevant data, it has been established that workplace harassment or mobbing is also present in teleworking, with negative consequences; when the characteristics and conditions of work are not clearly defined, it is accessible to transition to mobbing, and, therefore, the increase in psychosocial risks in workers.