Telework and Face-to-Face Work during COVID-19 Confinement: The Predictive Factors of Work-Related Stress from a Holistic Point of View

Abstract

This article explores the socio-labor conditions in which people worked during confinement, analyzing the predictors of work-related stress, according to work modality (face-to-face or teleworking), from a holistic and quantitative (N = 328) point of view. To identify predictors of stress, correlational analyses and multiple hierarchical regressions were conducted with individual, organizational, and societal variables. Furthermore, to analyze the possible modulating role of gender, caregiving, and the level of responsibility in organizations in the relationship between predictor variables and work stress, the macro process of Hayes et al. (2017) was used. Our results show that work–family conflict and ruminative thoughts predict stress in both modalities. In teleworking modality, the hours dedicated to work predicted stress, and in face-to-face modality, safety measures and perceived economic threat (tendentially). Being in charge of persons moderated the relationship between ruminative thoughts and economic threat, and stress in face-to-face. Results are discussed by identifying good practices that can improve workplace risk prevention strategies.

Associations of Work-Family Conflict with Family-Specific, Work-Specific, and Well-Being-Related Variables in a Sample of Polish and Ukrainian Adults during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This study did not find increased WFC and FWC or decreased mental health and well-being dimensions in remote workers, compared to those working stationary, which is in contrast to previous studies [ 20 , 21 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Remote online work demands, stressful acquisition of new technology, poor internet connection during the lockdown, and loss of boundaries between work and family domains, contributed to higher levels of WFC during the pandemic [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…Home-based telework also negatively impacted mental health among a nationally representative sample of Argentinian workers [ 31 ]. WFC was associated with occupational stress in Spanish employees working online and stationary, but working hours were related to stress solely among teleworkers [ 30 ]. Finally, workload also determined WFC, job-related stress, and job dissatisfaction among constable-ranked police employees from Pakistan [ 29 ].…”

“…Experts assumed the transition to telework was one of the essential issues for occupational health during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 26 ]. Studies report that occupational stress increased alongside WFC and FCW during the pandemic, especially among teleworkers [ 20 , 21 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Among people working remotely, WFC and FWC were associated with adverse physical symptoms, high stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and low life satisfaction [ 27 , 28 , 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”

“…Based on previous literature [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], we assume that changes in lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic were stressful events that contributed to the work-family imbalance, leading to high WFC and FWC [ 16 ]. We will examine the differences in WFC, FWC, well-being dimensions, and time pressure across countries, genders, relationship status, parenthood experience, caring for children under 12, and type of work (stationary vs. remote).…”

“…We will examine the differences in WFC, FWC, well-being dimensions, and time pressure across countries, genders, relationship status, parenthood experience, caring for children under 12, and type of work (stationary vs. remote). We hypothesize that higher CWF and worse well-being will be presented in Poland than in Ukraine regarding the individualism-collectivism dimension [ 12 , 13 ], among teleworkers [ 20 , 21 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], women [ 16 , 19 , 23 , 24 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ], coupled individuals, and those having children [ 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Inter-group differences in time pressure will be explored for the first time in this study.…”