FLASH Research: Telework, working conditions and work-family conflicts

 

Cycle 1 of the « Observatoire sur la santé et le mieux-être au travail » (ELOSMET) longitudinal study currently involves a sample of 66 workplaces and 2431 employees. Several dimensions of occupational health and well-being are being assessed, as well as a range of working conditions, non-work life situations and personal characteristics.

The COVID-19 situation has literally propelled telecommuting as the solution to maintaining operations in the context of a pandemic for many companies, but also as a viable alternative for the future. OSMET analyzed whether certain recognized risk or protective factors for health and wellness at work differed between employees who could telework and those who could not, taking into account characteristics related to gender, age, family status (being in a couple, presence of children in the household) and occupation. By shedding light on working conditions (tasks, demands, social relations, rewards) and work-family conflicts, the data collected so far lead to the following report:

Positive aspects. Telecommuting is associated with higher levels of protective factors:

  • Skill use
  • Decision-making authority
  • Co-worker support
  • Supervisory support
  • Recognition at work
  • Career opportunities
  • Procedural justice

Negative aspects. Telework is associated with a higher level of risk factors:

  • Psychological demands (workload, work pace, conflicting demands)
  • Number of hours worked per week
  • Work-family conflicts

Conclusion

According to the ELOSMET data, telework appears to be a management practice that can potentially promote health and well-being at work, provided that it is supervised that it does not increase psychological demands, the number of hours worked and work-family conflicts. Since there will be a post COVID-19 era and a definite interest in maintaining or further developing this practice in the workplace, monitoring and control of the risk and protective factors for health and wellness in the workplace related to telework will need to be prioritized.

Website: www.osmet.umontreal.ca

About OSMET

The Observatoire sur la santé et le mieux-être au travail (OSMET) was born of a collaboration between the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Institut de recherche en santé publique (now the Centre de recherche en santé publique) and the School of Industrial Relations of the Université de Montréal. OSMET is financially supported by four founding partners: LifeWorks Wellness Solutions (formerly Morneau Shepell), McKesson Canada, Medavie Blue Cross and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

This content has been updated on 10 July 2023 at 23h53.