Telework in times of COVID-19

Abstract

A weekly study on workers’ telework experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary results after the first three weeks of telework.

Full text

Industries:
37%
Others
7% Human health/social
work activities
28% Education
17%
Professional/
Academic/
Technical
Services
10%
Public
Administration/
Defence
No (62%)Yes (38%)
Leadership position:
Other (4%)
Home (12%)
Office (84%)
Workplace preference:
Other (4%)Germany (17%)
Austria (33%) France (25%)
Spain (17%)
Country:
Yes (66%) No (34%)
Previous telework experience:
n=607 (registered for study)
n=110 (completed first 3 weeks, this subsample was used for the analyses)
Ø 36.4 years old (SD=9.1); 69% female, 31% male
ABOUT THE SAMPLE
THE FIRST WEEK
25% experienced lack of
companionship from their colleagues
at least several times a day
52% felt that they could completely
rely on their colleagues when the job
got tough
62% experienced support by their
supervisor in a considerable way or
better
33% didn't report any problems
accessing required files, whereas
42%had those kind of technical
problems at least once a day
40% never felt isolated
The lines indicate
statistical signicance.
All values refer to the
average of the
mentioned groups
across all three weeks.
Employees in leadership positions
did not differ from those without
leadership positions regarding
- social support among colleagues,
- social isolation,
- negative emotions,
- positive emotions,
- technical problems.
3.81
Yes
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)
3.14
No
Coordinating with others
5.29
Yes
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 7 (highest)
4.88
No
Perceived productivity
LEADERSHIP
POSITION:
Employees with and without
previous telework experience did
not differ regarding
- coordinating with others,
- social support among colleagues,
- social support by supervisor,
- social isolation,
- negative emotions,
- positive emotions,
- perceived productivity.
1.98
Yes
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)
2.32
No
Technical problems
PREVIOUS TELEWORK
EXPERIENCE:
Employees who reported higher and
lower relationship quality with their
leaders did not differ regarding
- coordinating with others,
- social isolation,
- negative emotions,
- positive emotions,
- perceived productivity.
3.29
High
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 4 (highest)
3.05
Low
Social support (colleagues)
3.20
High
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 4 (highest)
2.57
Low
Social support (supervisor)
LEADER-MEMBER
RELATIONSHIP QUALITY:
DIFFERENCES AMONG EMPLOYEES
3.51
3.25
Week 1
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)
Week 3Week 2
COORDINATING WITH
OTHERS:
3.42 3.30
3.22
Week 1 Week 3Week 2
NEGATIVE
EMOTIONS:
3.07
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 6 (highest)
3.15
3.33
Week 1 Week 3Week 2
SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG
COLLEAGUES:
3.10
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 4 (highest)
2.93
3.08
Week 1 Week 3Week 2
SOCIAL SUPPORT BY
SUPERVISOR:
2.88
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 4 (highest)
2.07
2.32
Week 1 Week 3Week 2
TECHNICAL
PROBLEMS:
1.92
answer scale:
1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)
The lines indicate
statistical signicance.
There were no signicant
changes over time in
- social isolation,
- positive emotions,
- perceived productivity.
CHANGES OVER TIME
- Coordinating with others: "This week, my job often required that I coordinate with other people regarding our schedules."
- Social support (colleagues): "How much could you rely on your colleagues during this week when the job got tough?"
- Social support (supervisor): "How much could you rely on your supervisor during this week when the job got tough?"
- Social isolation: "How often did you feel alone during this week?"
- Negative emotions: "Please indicate how much did you feel annoyed this week."
- Positive emotions: "Please indicate how much did you feel happy this week."
- Perceived productivity: "Overall, how would you rate your performance on quality of work done during this week?"
- Technical problems: "During this week how often did you experience issues and/or problems with accessing les?"
- Leader-member relationship quality: "How well does your leader understand your job problems and needs?"
EXAMPLES FOR USED ITEMS/SCALES
TELEWORK IN TIMES OF COVID-19
a weekly study
March/April 2020 (start: 16/03/2020)
preliminary results after three weeks