ror.org/05ww3wq27
Abstracts
Summary
Restrictions implemented around the world to contain the spread of COVID-19 have had various consequences for workers. Emotional distress, maladaptive behaviours, and issues such as sleep disorders, irritability, and loss of motivation are expected, particularly among employees not used to telework. We wished to find out whether previous telework experience helped workers maintain their quality of life during the lockdown. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey of adult workers ≥ 18 years old in Canada, between May 25, 2020, and June 26, 2020. The survey was completed by 604 teleworkers, 66.8% of whom had not teleworked before the lockdown. The respondents provided self-reported data on sociodemographics, mental health issues, and quality of life. We assessed changes in quality of life by using paired t-tests and linear regression to identify significant determinants. Our analysis shows a decline during the lockdown in all quality of life indicators: stress, irritability, sleep quality, motivation, ability to undertake projects, and surfing the Internet without a specific goal (p < 0.001). The decline was mainly driven not by lack of previous telework experience but rather by a combination of three factors: having young children at home, having a high frequency of telework, and being a man.
Abstract
COVID-19 lockdowns have significantly impacted workers over the last year. In particular, telework has significantly changed the way work is done. We wished to find out whether previous telework experience helped workers maintain their quality of life during the lockdowns. By analyzing data collected from Canadian workers in the spring of 2020, we found that quality of life indicators significantly declined during the lockdown, and that previous telework experience did little to protect workers. We conclude that quality of life declined the most among teleworkers who had young children at home during the lockdown and who also had a high frequency of telework. This combination seems to have been more detrimental to men than to women.
Keywords:
- COVID-19,
- lockdown,
- telework,
- quality of life,
- remote work
Résumé
Les restrictions mises en place dans le monde entier pour contenir la propagation du virus de la COVID-19 ont eu diverses conséquences sur les travailleurs. Il peut en découler une détresse émotionnelle, des comportements inadaptés et des problèmes tels que des troubles du sommeil, de l'irritabilité et une perte de motivation, en particulier chez les employés qui n'ont pas l'habitude de télétravailler. Cette étude vise à déterminer si l'expérience du télétravail peut protéger les travailleurs contre les changements dans leur qualité de vie pendant les confinements liés à la COVID-19. Pour étudier ce phénomène, des données ont été recueillies par le biais d'une enquête en ligne anonyme menée auprès de travailleurs adultes âgés ≥ 18 ans au Canada, entre le 25 mai 2020 et le 26 juin 2020. L'enquête a été complétée par 604 télétravailleurs, dont 66,8 % n'étaient pas habitués au télétravail avant les confinements. Les informations recueillies concernent des données sociodémographiques, des problèmes de santé mentale et la qualité de vie. Les changements dans la qualité de vie ont été évalués à l'aide de tests-t appariés et de régression linéaire afin d'identifier les déterminants significatifs. L'analyse révèle que tous les indicateurs de qualité de vie [stress, irritabilité, qualité du sommeil, motivation, capacité à entreprendre des projets et navigation sur Internet sans but précis (p < 0,001)] se sont détériorés pendant les confinements. Le facteur le plus déterminant de cette détérioration n'est pas l'expérience préalable du télétravail, mais plutôt la présence de jeunes enfants à la maison couplée à la fréquence du télétravail et le sexe des répondants.
Mots-clefs:
- COVID-19,
- Confinement,
- Télétravail,
- Qualité de vie,
- Travail à distance
Appendices
References
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