RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Teleworking in Manufacturing: Dealing with the Post-Pandemic COVID-19 Challenge
A1 Fontaneda González, Ignacio
A1 Prádanos Galerón, Yurena
A1 González Alcántara, Oscar J.
A1 Camino López, Miguel Ángel
A1 García Izquierdo, Antonio León
A1 Osca Segovia, Amparo
K1 Telework
K1 Working conditions
K1 Human resources in manufacturing
K1 Organización del trabajo
K1 Methods engineering
K1 Bienestar social
K1 Public welfare
AB The quantity of teleworkers had already been rising in various work fields even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was not until the pandemic that it spread to other sectors such as the industrial sector. There are still few studies looking at telework’s impact on this important sector. This article is intended to discuss: (1) the extent of teleworking in manufacturing, (2) its adjustment to the industrial sector (challenges and benefits), and (3) its prospects for the future. To this end, 31 in-depth interviews have been conducted with four Plant Managers and seven Human Resource Directors of 11 industrial companies in Burgos (Spain) and surroundings, as well as 20 of their workers. Pre-pandemic teleworking was only active in one of the enterprises and now there are workers that work remotely in 9 out of 11. All interviewees agreed that teleworking will gradually expand. The study shows concerns and challenges when it comes to communication, trust, control, and productivity. It highlights the importance of establishing clear policies on teleworking and how to deal with remuneration, expense reimbursements, and equity between teleworkers and on-site workers. Overall, industrial-sector teleworking has brought positive results in terms of productivity and job satisfaction levels, but it has also resulted in new demands on aspects such as ergonomics, negative habits (food and physical inactivity), communication, and work–life balance.
PB MDPI
YR 2023
FD 2023-10
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10259/9867
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10259/9867
LA eng
NO This research was funded by Junta de Castilla y León through the call “Subsidies aimed at carrying out research projects in occupational risk prevention by the public universities of Castilla y León (2022)”, of the Order of 30 December 2021, by the Ministry of Employment and Industry within the project “Tele risks: Teleworking in the industrial sector, opportunities and threats in Occupational Risk Prevention. Prevalence of psychosocial risks, vulnerable groups and action guides for workers, companies and Administration”, grant number INVESTUN/21/BU/0003.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos
RD 15-ene-2025