Teletrabalho e saúde no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19 / Telework and health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Resumo Introdução: com a pandemia de COVID-19 e a política de distanciamento social, quase 9 milhões de trabalhadores tiveram suas atividades profissionais transferidas para o ambiente doméstico. Esse contexto funcionou como um laboratório no qual as empresas puderam experimentar a modalidade do teletrabalho. Objetivo: analisar o crescimento do teletrabalho e o perfil dos teletrabalhadores, destacando impactos e consequências para saúde dos profissionais. Métodos: análise de bibliografia pertinente, exploração de dados secundários de pesquisas sobre condições objetivas e subjetivas do teletrabalho, publicações sobre o teletrabalho no contexto da pandemia e pós-pandemia, análise de anúncios de trabalho remoto. Resultados: em razão da forma como ocorreu durante a pandemia, o trabalho remoto, além das consequências para saúde e condições de vida e trabalho, acarretou novos desafios para a classe trabalhadora. Entre eles, destacam-se: como assegurar condições ambientais e ergonômicas adequadas ao trabalho e como garantir o limite de jornada, a delimitação do tempo de trabalho, tendo em vista a tendência de sua manutenção para o período pós-pandemia. Conclusão: a análise revelou impactos sobre a saúde dos trabalhadores, com novos desafios para a classe trabalhadora. Tais impactos, entre outras razões, se devem a jornadas ampliadas, condições ergonômicas no domicílio e pressões para cumprimento de metas.

Abstract Introduction: with the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing policy, almost 9 million workers had their professional activities transferred to the home environment, called "remote work," "home office," or "telework." This context worked as a laboratory in which companies could experiment with teleworking. Objective: to analyze the unprecedented telework growth and the teleworkers' profile, highlighting the impacts and consequences for the workers' health. Methods: analysis of relevant bibliography, exploration of secondary data from empirical research on objective and subjective teleworking conditions, publications in the media about telework in the pandemic and post-pandemic context, and analysis of remote work ads. Results: due to the way remote work occurred during the pandemic, in addition to its consequences for health, and living and working conditions, new challenges were raised for the working class. Among them: how to ensure adequate environmental and ergonomic working conditions and how to guarantee the limit of working hours, and the delimitation of working time, in view of the tendency for telework to be maintained in the post-pandemic period. Conclusion: the analysis revealed impacts on workers' health that bring new challenges to the working class. Such impacts, among other reasons, are due to extended working hours, ergonomic conditions at home, and pressure to meet goals.

Skills for managing work from home scale (SMWFHS) / Escala de habilidades para gestionar el teletrabajo en casa (EHGTC) / Escala de habilidades para gerenciar o teletrabalho em casa (EHGTC)

Abstract This study developed and tested the validity of a scale that measures skills for managing work from home, such as: informing change, searching for information, establishing priorities, setting and adapting goals, assessing work outputs, distributing tasks, and offering feedback. Participants were 2,038 managers from three Brazilian public organizations. Exploratory, confirmatory, and multigroup factor analyses revealed an 8-item unidimensional structure, excellent reliability indices, and goodness of fit, besides invariance for gender and age groups. The short scale permits testing research models with multiple variables, comparative (voluntary vs. compulsory telework), and cross-cultural studies.

Resumen Este estudio desarrolló y probó la validez de una escala que mide las habilidades para gestionar el trabajo desde casa, como: informar cambios, buscar información, establecer prioridades, establecer y adaptar metas, evaluar los resultados del trabajo, distribuir tareas y dar feedback. Participaron 2.038 directivos de tres organizaciones públicas brasileñas. Los análisis factoriales exploratorios, confirmatorios y multigrupo revelaron una estructura unifactorial de 8 ítems, excelentes índices de confiabilidad y bondad de ajuste, además de invariancia para género y rangos etarios. La escala corta permite probar modelos de investigación con múltiples variables, estudios comparativos (teletrabajo voluntario vs. obligatorio) e interculturales.

Resumo Este estudo desenvolveu e testou a validade de uma escala que mede as habilidades para gerir o trabalho desde casa, como: relatar mudanças, buscar informações, definir prioridades, definir e adaptar metas, avaliar os resultados do trabalho, distribuir tarefas e fornecer feedback. Participaram 2.038 gestores de três organizações públicas brasileiras. As análises fatoriais exploratórias, confirmatórias e multigrupo revelaram uma estrutura unifatorial de oito itens, excelentes índices de confiabilidade e qualidade de ajuste, bem como invariância para gênero e faixas etárias. A escala curta permite testar modelos de pesquisa com múltiplas variáveis, estudos comparativos (teletrabalho voluntário versus compulsório) e estudos interculturais.

Trabajo, teletrabajo y salud mental en el contexto COVID-19 / Work, telework, and mental health during COVID-19

Resumen Este trabajo abordar una reflexión sobre el impacto de la pandemia COVID19 sobre la salud mental de los trabajadores, y en particular, sobre las condiciones del teletrabajo. Para ello se recupera y analiza diferentes documentos de organismos internacionales y diferentes publicaciones científicas especializadas. De la información recuperada se señala que la pandemia no sólo ha tenido importantes efectos sobre la salud mental de los trabajadores de primera línea, sino también, sobre los trabajadores que debieron migrar repentinamente hacia los entornos virtuales, sin demasiada organización previa. No obstante, un aspecto positivo se refleja en la organización de diferentes dispositivos de atención de la salud mental remota, implementados para la atención de poblaciones vulnerables, trabajadores de primera línea y población general. Se concluye enfatizando la importancia del desarrollo de políticas públicas para la atención específica de la salud mental de los trabajadores.

Abstract This review addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers' mental health, in particular, teleworking conditions. Our analysis is based on documents from several international organizations and specialized scientific publications. The retrieved information reveals that the pandemic has had a significant effect on the mental health of frontline workers and employees who had to migrate to a virtual environment without prior warning. However, a positive aspect is reflected in the development of several remote mental health care devices implemented to protect vulnerable population, frontline workers, and the general population. Finally, this paper underscores the importance of developing public policies for protecting workers' mental health.

Variations of work engagement and psychological distress based on three working modalities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus became a global health threat affecting people's mental and physical health, as well as working conditions and modalities. The reorganization of the work environment also affected work engagement and psychological distress levels. This manuscript assesses how work engagement and distress vary according to gender and age across three working modalities. We used a voluntary response sampling strategy to collect data on psychological distress and work engagement between August 2021 and January 2022. Results are from 542 people working in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, participants experienced psychological distress; women and younger participants presented higher psychological distress. Regarding engagement, the sample showed average levels of total engagement, average levels of vigor, and high levels of dedication and absorption. Men presented higher levels of total work engagement and vigor. Psychological distress was significantly and negatively correlated with total work engagement scores and its three factors. There were no differences in work engagement according to the different modalities. However, teleworkers reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress than hybrid workers. Findings are discussed considering ideas for decision-makers to explore the benefits of flexible working practices.

A ponta do iceberg: o teletrabalho durante a pandemia / The tip of the iceberg: telework during the pandemic

Resumo A pandemia do novo coronavírus levou o trabalho para a residência de milhares de trabalhadores no mundo, de maneira compulsória. Portanto, este ensaio objetiva evidenciar os fatores psicossociais de riscos à saúde e o panorama do teletrabalho no primeiro ano da pandemia de covid-19 e, neste contexto, analisar a política do teletrabalho no Brasil. Apresentamos os diferentes conceitos do teletrabalho e discutimos sobre como não é uma modalidade ausente de riscos. Fatores psicossociais, como o isolamento social e profissional, a intensificação do trabalho e sobreposição de atividades profissionais e familiares são alguns dos destacados na literatura. A partir de dados secundários obtidos da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios e análises do Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada durante a pandemia, revelou-se um panorama de desigualdade no perfil daqueles que tem acesso ao teletrabalho, além da acentuação das diferenças regionais. Por fim, identificamos um descompasso entre a regulamentação do teletrabalho e as necessidades dos trabalhadores, impactadas pela pandemia de covid-19. Assim, é necessária a elaboração, reformulação e implementação de políticas, visando garantir os direitos e saúde dos teletrabalhadores.

Abstract The new coronavirus pandemic compulsorily brought work into the homes of thousands of workers worldwide. Therefore, this essay aims to highlight the psychosocial factors of health risks and telework's panorama in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and, in this context, to analyze the telework policy in Brazil. We presented the different concepts of telework and discuss how and why it is not a risk-free modality. The literature highlights psychosocial factors, such as social and professional isolation, work intensification and overlapping of professional and family activities. Secondary data obtained from the National Household Sample Survey and analyses by the Institute of Applied Economic Research during the pandemic revealed a panorama of inequality in the profile of those who have access to telework, in addition to the accentuation of regional differences. Finally, we identified a mismatch between the regulation of telework and the workers' needs, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it is necessary to elaborate, reformulate and implement policies, aiming to guarantee the rights and health of teleworkers.

Teleworking in times of a pandemic: An applied study of industrial companies.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of teleworking on self-reported job satisfaction and workers' productivity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was administered to 331 teleworkers belonging to industrial companies, whose data were analyzed with a PLS-SEM structural equation model. The results indicate that communication with coworkers, time spent teleworking, and workplace suitability positively affect self-reported productivity, while trust on the part of supervisors and workplace suitability positively affect job satisfaction. On the other hand, work-family conflict negatively affects job satisfaction and self-reported productivity, whereas communication with coworkers, support from supervisor and time spent teleworking have no significant effect on job satisfaction. This study provides relevant information for industrial organizations to improve the job-satisfaction and productivity in large scaled teleworking contexts, as should have been implemented during the mandatory preventive isolation due to the health crisis related to the transmission of SARs-CoV-2.

Teletrabajo y auto-percepción de dolor musculoesquelético en tiempos de COVID-19. Caso empresa venezolana / Telecommuting and self-perception of musculoskeletal pain in times of COVID-19: Case of a Venezuelan company

En tiempos de COVID-19, el teletrabajo se hizo frecuente, ya que producto de la pandemia, gran parte de trabajadores debió quedarse en casa y trabajar a distancia. El Objetivo consiste en determinar la prevalencia del dolor músculoesquelético auto informado por los trabajadores(as) del tren gerencial de una empresa de alimentos venezolana. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, trasversal y descriptivo. El muestreo fue intencional quedando conformado por 243 trabajadores. Como técnica de recolección de datos se utilizó la observación directa y como instrumento el cuestionario, desarrollado bajo la aplicación Google Forms®. Asimismo, se utilizó el método ROSA para cuantificar los riesgos asociados con el trabajo en computadora. Resultados: El 61,79% de los participantes eran masculinos; con edad promedio de 45,86±9,0 años. Las regiones del cuerpo más afectadas por molestias musculo esqueléticas fueron el cuello, la espalda baja y la muñeca derecha, con tasas de prevalencia de 85,8%, 66,5% y 53,3% respectivamente. El sexo femenino, se asoció significativamente con la aparición de dolor en hombro derecho y espalda alta. El riesgo de trastornos musculo esqueléticos, según el método ROSA se asoció de manera significativa con dolencias en cuello, hombro derecho, espalda alta, espalda baja y muñeca derecha. En Conclusión, existe asociación entre la edad y el sexo, las condiciones inseguras de las estaciones de trabajo, el incremento de las horas de trabajo y disminución de pausa, la falta de formación en ergonomía con la alta prevalencia de dolencias musculo esqueléticas(AU)

In times of COVID-19, teleworking became frequent, since as a result of the pandemic, a large number of workers had to stay at home and work remotely. The Objective is to determine the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal pain by workers in the management board of a Venezuelan food company. A quantitative, crosssectional and descriptive study was carried out. The sampling was intentional, being made up of 243 workers. Direct observation was used as a data collection technique and the questionnaire, developed under the Google Forms® application, was used as an instrument. Likewise, the ROSA method was used to quantify the risks associated with computer work. Results: 61.79% of the participants were male; with an average age of 45.86 ± 9.0 years. The regions of the body most affected by musculoskeletal complaints were the neck, lower back, and right wrist, with prevalence rates of 85.8%, 66.5%, and 53.3%, respectively. The females sex were significantly associated with the appearance of pain in the right shoulder and upper back. The risk of musculoskeletal disorders, according to the ROSA method, was significantly associated with pain in the neck, right shoulder, upper back, lower back, and right wrist. In conclusion, there is an association between age and sex, the unsafe conditions of the work stations, the increase in working hours and the decrease in breaks, the lack of training in ergonomics with the high prevalence of musculoskeletal ailments(AU)

Asociación entre depresión y teletrabajo durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Chile / The association between depression and telework during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile

Introducción: a principios del 2020, el mundo experimentó una pandemia COVID-19 que repercutió en múltiples ámbitos de la vida, entre ellos la salud mental y el área laboral. En este periodo, se han observado grandes cambios sociales, específicamente en términos del teletrabajo. Paralelamente, se han objetivado mayores niveles de depresión y ansiedad en la población. Actualmente hay escasos estudios que exploran cómo ambas variables se relacionan en conjunto y, por ello, en el presente artículo se explorará el trabajo vía telemática y la presencia de sintomatología depresiva. Métodos: datos obtenidos de un estudio longitudinal que tomó una muestra aleatoria de 1383 personas entre 21 y 68 años. Se recopilaron datos demográficos, laborales y se evaluó la presencia de síntomas depresivos mediante el Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9). Resultados: un 45% de las personas que mantenían un empleo con teletrabajo presentaba algún grado de sintomatología depresiva en comparación con un 30,9% de las personas ocupadas sin teletrabajo. Discusión: interpretamos que inicialmente el teletrabajo se presentaba como una forma idónea de trabajo. No obstante, se comenzaron a evidenciar factores de riesgo conocidos para desarrollar sintomatología depresiva, tales como; el sedentarismo, tiempo frente a las pantallas, insomnio y aislamiento social. Frente a dicha realidad, los resultados del presente estudio son concordantes con lo descrito en la literatura, pero aún falta profundizar su impacto a largo plazo y las medidas protectoras que se podrían implementar.

Introduction: In the early 2020s, the world experienced the COVID-91 pandemic which echoed in multiple areas of life, including mental health and employment. During this time, a great number of social changes have appeared, specifically in terms of telecommuting. Concurrently, there has been more levels of depression and anxiety in the population. Nowadays, the literature about this topic is scarce, particularly about how these two variables interact and, because of this, this article will explore the relationship between telework and the presence of depressive symptomatology. Methods: Data from a longitudinal study involving a random sample of 1383 people between 21 and 68 years of age. Demographic and occupational data were collected and the presence of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9). Results: 45% of those employed with telework presented some degree of depressive symptoms compared to 30,9% of those employed without telework. Discussion: We can conclude that at the beginning teleworking was presented as an optimal way of working. However, as it was maintained over time, certain risk factors began to become evident, perpetuating and maintaining certain risk factors for developing depressive symptoms such as sedentary lifestyle, time in front of screens, insomnia, and isolation. Given this reality, the results of the present study are consistent with what has been described in the literature, but the long-term impact and the protective measures that should be implemented still need to be studied in more detail

A Comparison of Working Conditions and Workers' Perceptions among On-Site, Telework, and Hybrid Workers in Ecuador during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to adopt different work modalities to ensure their operation during this period. In this study, we described and compared working conditions and perceptions among face-to-face workers, teleworkers, and hybrid workers in Ecuador. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 542 participants, using a self-report survey to assess sociodemographic data, working conditions, and workers' perceptions. Variables were described and then compared by the Chi-square test, ANOVA, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results indicated a higher proportion of on-site workers without higher education and in the public sector compared to the other modalities. At the same time, there was evidence of increased perceived productivity. People in the hybrid modality tended to have more than one job, earning a higher monthly salary, perceiving a decrease in productivity, an increase in daily working hours, and a lower capacity for time management. In addition, most teleworkers reported fair working conditions, a dedicated workspace, and easy adaptation to this work mode. This study builds a more in-depth understanding of how workers perceived their working conditions among work modalities for organizational decision-making because the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic is modifying the ways of working permanently.

Perceived Physical Discomfort and Its Associations With Home Office Characteristics During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and change in perception of physical discomfort, including musculoskeletal discomfort, during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine associations of demographic factors, telework activity, and home office characteristics with the highest prevalence of discomfort. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced a substantial increase in telework in many countries. The sudden change from a regular workplace to an improvised "home office" may have an impact on working conditions and physical symptoms of office workers. However, investigations in this area remain limited. METHOD: A cross-sectional study design was used to compare self-reported complaints of physical discomfort perceived from before with those during the pandemic. Associations between complaints and home office characteristics were investigated from 150 faculty and 51 administrative staff of an academic institution with an age range of 41.16 ± 10.20 (59% female). RESULTS: A significant increase of physical discomfort was found during the pandemic period for head, eyes, hand, and upper back for both staff and faculty and neck, shoulders, elbows, and lower back for faculty only. Logistic regression analyses point to associations with the lack of a laptop stand, uncomfortable desk, poor lighting, and sitting time, among others. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of physical discomfort was reported by teleworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some home office characteristics were associated with these discomforts. APPLICATION: Some telework characteristics seem to be risk factors for physical discomfort. Consideration should be given to teaching best practices for workstation setup and/or conducting other preventive interventions in the work environment.

Parenting and Children's Behavior During the COVID 19 Pandemic: Mother's Perspective.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents have felt anxious, overwhelmed, and stressed out due to the changes in education and family and working routines. This work aimed to (a) describe three dimensions of perceived parenting (positive parenting, parenting stress, and parental school support) in the COVID-19 pandemic context, (b) describe possible changes perceived by mothers in their children's behavior during the social isolation phase, (c) analyze if behavioral changes vary according to the dimension of perceived parenting, and (d) analyze whether the characteristics of perceived parenting dimensions vary with mother's age, number of children and number of work hours. The purposive sample consisted of 646 mothers of school-aged children in Argentina. Questionnaires on sociodemographic and work-related data, and on children's behavior were administered, as well as an instrument (Vargas Rubilar et al., 2021) that assessed the three parenting dimensions (positive parenting, parenting stress, and parent-school support). The sociodemographic and work-related variables of the study were described using descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency, frequencies, and percentages. The changes perceived in children's behavior according to the reports given by the mothers regarding positive parenting, parenting stress, and school support were compared using the Mann Whitney's U test, respecting the qualitative nature of the evaluated indicators. A factorial MANOVA was conducted to analyze the effect of mother's age, ä number of children, and the number of work hours on parenting perceived by mothers. Parenting dimensions influenced the perceived children's behavior. Mothers with higher positive parenting perceived more changes in their children's behavior. In addition, those mothers who were more stressed out perceived more problems in almost all the measured behaviors than less stressed mothers. The mothers who reported to have provided more school support to their children perceived that they adapted better to online classes. Finally, mothers' age and the number of children I parenting, particularly on parenting stress and school support, whereas work hours did not. A number of children affected stress and school support, and age only affected parenting stress. The only significant interaction regarding parenting was observed between the number of children and the number of work hours, which specifically affected parenting stress. Although social isolation due to COVID-19 affected children's behavior, according to mothers, this might be partially linked to the number of children, mothers' age, and the mothers' parenting style. These initial findings may allow the identification of some protective factors and some risk factors of parenting in the Argentine context of a pandemic, and the design of preventive psychoeducational interventions to optimize the psychological wellbeing of families.

A nationwide cross-sectional study of workers' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact of changes in working conditions, financial hardships, psychological detachment from work and work-family interface.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 disease has changed people's work and income. While recent evidence has documented the adverse impact of these changes on mental health outcomes, most research is focused on frontline healthcare workers and the reported association between income loss and mental health comes from high-income countries. In this study we examine the impact of changes in working conditions and income loss related to the COVID-19 lockdown on workers' mental health in Argentina. We also explore the role of psychological detachment from work and work-family interaction in mental health. METHODS: A total of 1049 participants aged between 18 and 65 who were working before the national lockdown in March 2020 were recruited using a national random telephone survey. Work conditions included: working at the usual workplace during the pandemic, working from home with flexible or fixed schedules, and being unemployed or unable to work due to the pandemic. Measures of financial hardship included income loss and self-reported financial problems related to the outbreak. Work-family interface included measures of work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC). Mental health outcomes included burnout, life satisfaction, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Data were collected in October 2020. RESULTS: Home-based telework under fixed schedules and unemployment impact negatively on mental health. Income loss and particularly self-reported financial problems were also associated with deterioration of mental health. More than half of the participants reported financial problems, and those who became unemployed during the pandemic experienced more often financial problems. Finally, psychological detachment from work positively influenced mental health; WFC and FWC were found to negatively impact on mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Countries' policies should focus on supporting workers facing economic hardships and unemployment to ameliorate the COVID-19' negative impact on mental health. Organisations can protect employees' mental health by actively encouraging psychological detachment from work and by help managing work-family interface. Longitudinal studies are needed to more thoroughly assess the long-term impact of the COVID-19-related changes in work and economic turndown on mental health issues.

Fatiga laboral en personas que realizaron trabajo en casa en tiempos de confinamiento por COVID-19 / Work fatigue in people who worked at home during times of confinement by COVID-19

Introducción:El aislamiento social por Covid-19 llevó a muchos colaboradores a realizar trabajo en casa y asimismo a experimentar diversas sensaciones que conjugadas con factores laborales, demandas físicas, emocionales y/o mentales, presentaron fatiga laboral,y por ende consecuencias en su salud. Objetivo:El estudio se centró en identificar síntomas relacionados a la fatiga laboral en personas con modalidad de trabajo en casa por COVID-19. Materiales y métodos:Estudio cuantitativo con un enfoque descriptivo-transversal. Se aplicó de manera virtual una escalade fatiga laboral,bajo consentimiento informado a 511 participantes que realizaban trabajo en casa. Resultados:De acuerdo con los resultados se evidenció que el 47,7% experimentaron un nivel de fatiga medio, en dimensiones relacionadas con carga física, carga mental, efectos psicofisiológicos y percepción de cambios en las dinámicas de trabajo; experiencias negativas asociadas a la insatisfacción laboral y afectación de la salud. Por otro lado, se identificaron experiencias positivas: compartir en familia, autonomía laboral y aprendizajes.Conclusiones:Se evidenció la presencia de fatiga laboral en más de la mitad de la muestra, manifestada en síntomas asociados a las diferentes dimensiones,percibidos de manera regular por los participantes,que de no ser tratados puede llegar a afectarles la calidad de vida.

Introduction:The social isolation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic forced employees to work from home and experience diverse feelings, which together with labor factors as well as physical, emotional, and/or mental demands, led to work fatigue and in turn, to health consequences. Objective:This study was aimed at identifying symptoms related to labor fatigue in people working from home due to COVID-19. Materials and methods: A quantitative study with a descriptive-cross sectional approach. Data was collected from 511participants who worked at home using a labor fatigue virtual scale and the informed consent. Results:47.7% of participants experienced a medium fatigue level, in dimensions such as physical load, mental load, psycho-physiological effects, and perceptionof changes in job dynamics. Likewise, they reported negative experiences associated with job dissatisfaction and health issues. On the other hand, positive events were identified, such as sharing time with family, job autonomy, and learning experiences. Conclusions: Work related fatigue was evidenced in half of the participants, which was expressed through symptoms associated with different dimensions. They were perceived frequently and may affect the quality of life of participants if these symptoms are not treated properly.

Mental Health of Teachers Who Have Teleworked Due to COVID-19.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education included school closures and the implementation of virtual teaching and teleworking without the knowledge or resources needed to do so. This situation accentuated the inequality in accessing quality education and generated high rates of stress, anxiety, and general discomfort in teachers. This study aimed to explore the mental health of teachers who were forced to telework because of COVID-19, and to analyze the association with sociodemographic, teacher-related, and working conditions. The sample was 278 classroom teachers in Chile who teleworked more than 50% during the 2020 academic year. The participants were mostly women (82%) who entered the teaching profession at age 30 or younger (87%) and worked two or more unpaid overtime hours per day (67%). The dependent variable was mental health measured through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The independent variables were sociodemographic, teacher-related, and work conditions. The internal structure of the mental health construct was evaluated using the Rasch model. Crude odds ratios (cORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated using logistic regression models. A high rate of poor mental health was identified in teachers (58%). The variables associated with poor mental health were working in a private-subsidized school (aOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.16-7.22), working two or more unpaid overtime hours (aOR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.11-4.59), and being absent due to sickness (aOR = 3.82; 95% CI: 1.53-9.58). These results provide evidence suggesting the need for actions to improve the working conditions of teachers who telework in order to improve their mental health, and thus have a positive impact on the entire educational community.

Habitability, Resilience, and Satisfaction in Mexican Homes to COVID-19 Pandemic.

Following the 2020 confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, housing has become the only safe place and this has exposed inequity in habitability. This research on the reality of confined households and the perception of their homes in the Mexican republic is based on a mixed participatory study, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The online questionnaire consisted of 58 questions in the quantitative approximation. The qualitative part required the provision of an image of the workspace, with testimonies and personal reflections. During the lockdown, all participants saw an increase in overall energy consumption; more than half reported not being in thermal comfort; and a third declared deficiencies in noise insulation. Regarding the perception of the telework/tele-study space, we found the following categories: bedrooms, living/dining rooms, studies and others. In addition, respondents had often adapted the workspace for both individual and shared use. In general, the households were satisfied with the size of their houses but would like landscaped spaces or better views outside. Confinement made housing the protective element against the pandemic. The consequences will have an effect globally, so new architectural design paradigms need to be rethought.

O trabalho no fio da navalha: nova morfologia no Serviço Social em tempos de devastação e pandemia / Work on the razor's edge: new morphology in Social Work in times of devastation and pandemic

Resumo: O artigo problematiza a confluência das crises desencadeadas pela epidemia do novo coronavírus e seus impactos no mundo do trabalho, no Serviço Social e no trabalho cotidiano de assistentes sociais, cujo desvendamento deve ser remetido à crise estrutural do capital das últimas décadas e às suas estratégias de enfrentamento.

Abstract: The article problematizes the confluence of crises triggered by the epidemic of the new coronavirus and its impacts on the world of work, social work and the everyday work of social workers, whose unveiling should be sent to the structural crisis of the capital of recent decades and their coping strategies.

Association between musculoskeletal pain and telework in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic: an integrative review.

Introduction: Telework has been an alternative for companies to remain active in the market during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic. Objectives: To analyze the mains scientific evidence on the association between musculoskeletal pain and home office work during the COVID 19 pandemic. Methods: This is an integrative review guided by the following question: can workers present musculoskeletal pain due to home office work during the COVID 19 pandemic? The searches were conducted on the bases de dados MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science, Taylor & Francis, Embase, LILACS and SciELO databases. The study included articles published from March 2020 until the time of data collection, which occurred on April 20th, 2021. Results: The main findings showed complaints of increased musculoskeletal pain, especially in the low back region, followed by neck, except for a study in which the participants increased the number of hours of physical activity during the pandemic. Increased sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and increased physical load due to household chores seemed to promote the onset of musculoskeletal disorders. The point prevalence of neck pain was significantly related to age, sex, health status, job satisfaction, and length of employment. The findings provided evidence that the impact on work and leisure was substantial. Conclusions: The pandemic worsened the musculoskeletal health of workers in different areas whose work activities were kept at home in the remote mode. However, engagement in physical activity during confinement periods was beneficial for reducing the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain.

O futuro do trabalho após a COVID-19: o papel incerto do teletrabalho no domicílio / The future of work after the COVID-19, the uncertain role of teleworking at home / El futuro del trabajo tras la COVID-19: el papel incierto del teletrabajo en el domicilio

Resumo Introdução: o teletrabalho no domicílio, uma das medidas adotadas para controlar a pandemia de COVID-19 e, ao mesmo tempo, manter o emprego, tem aumentado em vários países. Objetivo: refletir sobre o significado, a magnitude e as tendências do teletrabalho no domicílio, antes e durante a pandemia, enfatizando seus potenciais efeitos na saúde do trabalhador. Discussão: a precedente Convenção 177/1996 da Organização Internacional do Trabalho (OIT) sobre trabalho a domicílio e o acordo sobre teletrabalho entre agentes sociais na União Europeia, em 2002, apontam a dificuldade de regulamentar essa nova forma de organização do trabalho e da prevenção de possíveis lesões e doenças associadas, especialmente transtornos mentais e distúrbios musculoesqueléticos. São necessários estudos sobre os efeitos na saude dessa modalidade de trabalho para fornecer evidências científicas que embasarão normas em nível nacional e global. A inclusão de questões específicas e bem definidas, como as que a OIT propõe, em futuros levantamentos sobre as condições de trabalho, emprego e saúde poderá auxiliar tal objetivo e proporcionar uma oportunidade para observar os efeitos do teletrabalho no domicílio na saúde do trabalhador, bem como avaliar o impacto de uma necessária e urgente regulamentação.

Abstract Introduction: teleworking at home, one of the mitigation measures adopted to control the COVID-19 pandemic, while attempting to maintain employment, has increased in many countries. Objective: to reflect on the meaning, magnitude and trends of teleworking at home, before and during the pandemic, focusing on its potential effects on the health of workers. Discussion: the precedent of Convention 177/1996 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on home work, and the agreement on teleworking between social agents in the European Union of 2002, underscore the difficulties of regulating this new form of work organization, and the prevention of possible injuries and associated diseases, especially mental and musculoskeletal disorders. The investigation of its effects on health is a priority to base its regulation at the national and global level on scientific evidence. The incorporation of specific, well-defined questions, such as those proposed by the ILO, in questionnaires of future surveys on working conditions, employment and health may help in this objective and provide an opportunity to monitor the effects on health of teleworking at home, as well as evaluating the impact of its necessary and urgent regulation.

Resumen Introducción: el teletrabajo en el domicilio, una de las medidas adoptadas para controlar la pandemia de COVID-19, y al mismo tiempo mantener el empleo, se ha incrementado en diversos países. Objetivos: reflexionar sobre el significado, la magnitud y las tendencias del teletrabajo en el domicilio, antes y durante la pandemia, focalizando en sus potenciales efectos sobre la salud de los trabajadores. Discusión: el antecedente del Convenio 177/1996 de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) sobre trabajo a domicilio, y el acuerdo sobre teletrabajo entre agentes sociales en la Unión Europea de 2002, muestran la dificultad de regular esta nueva forma de organización del trabajo, y de la prevención de las posibles lesiones y enfermedades asociadas, especialmente los trastornos mentales y musculoesqueléticos. La investigación de sus efectos sobre la salud es una prioridad para fundamentar en evidencias científicas su regulación a nivel nacional y global. La incorporación de preguntas específicas, bien definidas, como las que propone la OIT, en cuestionarios de futuras encuestas sobre condiciones de trabajo, empleo y salud podrán ayudar en este objetivo y propiciar una oportunidad para monitorizar los efectos del teletrabajo en el domicilio sobre la salud, así como evaluar el impacto de su necesaria y urgente regulación.

Percepções de teletrabalhadores e trabalhadores presenciais sobre desenho do trabalho / Perceptions of teleworkers and face-to-face workers about work design / Percepciones de teletrabajadores y trabajadores presenciales respecto del diseño del trabajo

Apesar da crescente adoção do teletrabalho no Brasil, há poucas publicações nacionais acerca dessa modalidade. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivos comparar as opiniões de 270 teletrabalhadores e 266 trabalhadores presenciais em relação ao desenho do trabalho, de acordo com a teoria de Morgeson e Humphrey (2006), e analisar a influência exercida por variáveis sociodemográficas e funcionais sobre características da tarefa e do conhecimento. Os dados foram submetidos a análises fatoriais, testes t e regressões múltiplas. Os principais resultados deste estudo mostraram que as percepções de teletrabalhadores e trabalhadores presenciais diferem em sete das dez características estudadas. Teletrabalhadores perceberam menor autonomia de decisão, variedade, significado, identificação da tarefa, complexidade, solução de problemas e especialização do que os trabalhadores presenciais. São necessários estudos que investiguem antecedentes da escolha da modalidade de trabalho pelo trabalhador e consequências do teletrabalho na motivação, no comprometimento, na saúde, na produtividade e nas interfaces entre o trabalho e a família.

Despite the increasing adoption of telework in Brazil, there are few national publications about this modality. This research aims to compare the views of 270 teleworkers and 266 face-to-face workers in relation to the design of the work, according to the Morgeson and Humphrey (2006) theory, and to analyze the influence exerted by sociodemographic and functional variables on task and knowledge characteristics. Data were submitted to factor analysis, t-tests, and multiple regressions. The main results of this study showed that the perceptions of teleworkers and face-to-face workers differ in seven of the ten characteristics studied. Teleworkers perceived less decision-making autonomy, task variety, task significance, task identity, job complexity, problem solving, and specialization than the face-to-face workers. Studies are required that investigate the antecedents of the choice of the modality and the consequences of telework on motivation, commitment, health, productivity, and interfaces between work and family.

A pesar de la creciente adopción del teletrabajo en Brasil, hay pocas publicaciones nacionales acerca de esa modalidad. Esta investigación tiene como objetivos comparar las opiniones de 270 teletrabajadores y 266 trabajadores presenciales con relación al diseño del trabajo, de acuerdo con la teoría de Morgeson y Humphrey (2006), y analizar la influencia ejercida por variables sociodemográficas y funcionales sobre características de la tarea y del conocimiento. Los datos fueron sometidos a análisis factoriales, pruebas t y regresiones múltiples. Los principales resultados mostraron que las percepciones de teletrabajadores y trabajadores presenciales difieren en siete de las diez características estudiadas. Los teletrabajadores percibieron menor autonomía de decisión, variedad, significado, identificación de la tarea, complejidad, solución de problemas y especialización que los trabajadores presenciales. Se necesitan estudios que investiguen antecedentes de la elección de la modalidad y consecuentes del teletrabajo sobre motivación, compromiso, salud, productividad e interfaces trabajo-familia.

Factores asociados a la disposición por el teletrabajo entre docentes universitarios / Factors associated with the disposition for telework amon university teachers

Son múltiples los beneficios reportados alrededor del mundo con referencia a la adopción del teletrabajo, y es ampliamente recomendada su implementación para actividades relacionadas con la gestión del conocimiento y la información. Pero es muy escasa la investigación adelantada al respecto en el sector educativo. La presente investigación se propuso determinar qué factores inciden con la disposición hacia la adopción del teletrabajo entre profesores universitarios. Se aplicó una encuesta entre 118 profesores de universidades públicas y privadas del sector del Eje Cafetero-Colombia en donde se recolectó información relacionada con aspectos individuales, actividades tele-trabajables, percepción y actitud hacia el uso de TIC, aptitud para el manejo de TIC, y aspectos relacionados con su entorno laboral. Se aplicaron pruebas de independencia, análisis de correspondencias múltiples y regresión logística. Se detecta una alta disposición hacia la adopción del teletrabajo entre profesores universitarios. Entre los factores asociados hacia el interés por teletrabajar surgen principalmente los relacionados con los aspectos aptitudinales y actitudinales hacia el uso de las TIC en las actividades laborales, mientras que por el contrario, los aspectos individuales, el entorno laboral y el tipo de actividades realizadas presentan muy poca incidencia en la disposición a teletrabajar.

Multiple benefits are reported around the world with reference to the adoption of telework, and is widely recommended its implementation in activities related to knowledge management and information. But there is little research in the education sector. This research aims to determine what factors affect the disposition towards adoption of telework among university teachers. A survey was done among 118 teachers from public and private universities of a region of Colombia where related information with individual aspects, teleworking activities, perceptions and attitudes towards the use of ICT, aptitude for the management of ICT, and aspects related to their work environment was collected. Tests of independence, multiple correspondence analysis and logistic regression were applied. A high disposition towards the adoption of telework among academics is detected. Among the factors associated to the interest in telecommuting arise primarily those related to the aptitudinal and attitudinal aspects to the use of ICT in work activities, while on the contrary, the individual aspects, the working environment and the type of activities have very little impact on the willingness to telework.