Telework in Perspective — New Challenges to Occupational Health and Safety

Abstract

The emerging information society gives rise to new, flexible work stylesof which telework can be regarded as a typical example. In order toexplore the impact of ``flexible{''} working conditions on well-beingand health, a questionnaire was designed and administered to 1.400,highly skilled freelancing teleworkers ill the media sector. Thefollowing results are based upon the data of the first part of alongitudinal study. The response rate amounted to 15 %, which not onlyposes methodological problems but also highlights the challengeresearchers and practitioners face when trying to access a dispersedworkforce. The results point to some ambivalence in the work situationof the freelancers under study. High work motivation, high skillutilization and task variety are coupled with a high level of timepressure, recurrent fluctuations in the amount of work and conflictingwork demands (i.e., demands for high performance and tight deadlines)and long working hours. When disconnected from supportive networks,teleworkers with challenging demands will have difficulties in settinglimits to their workload and in recovery. So importance should beattached to detect early signs of potential health risks, particularlyin young workers. Moreover, theoretical concepts for studying workorganization in relation to health risks have to be revised to accountfor the health aspects of flexible work styles.