Telework and ICT-based mobile work: Flexible working in the digital age
Published: 16 January 2020
Advances in ICT have opened the door to new ways of organising work. We are shifting from a regular, bureaucratic and ‘factory-based’ working time pattern towards a more flexible model of work. Telework and ICT-based mobile work (TICTM) has emerged in this transition, giving workers and employers the ability to adapt the time and location of work to their needs. Despite the flexibility and higher level of worker autonomy inherent in TICTM, there are risks that this work arrangement leads to the deterioration of work–life balance, higher stress levels and failing worker health. This report analyses the employment and working conditions of workers with TICTM arrangements, focusing on how it affects their work–life balance, health, performance and job prospects. While policymakers in many EU countries are debating TICTM and its implications, the study finds that only a few have implemented new regulations to prevent TICTM from having a negative impact on the well-being of workers.
Digitalisation and the advent of more flexible work organisation are changing working time patterns. Working time for workers who do telework and ICT-based mobile work (TICTM) is more porous, irregular and unpredictable.
TICTM can have clear benefits for people’s work–life balance, enabling them to adapt their working time to their private and family-related needs. However, these types of work arrangement can also lead to an intensification of work, even where workers have high levels of autonomy – a situation known as the autonomy paradox.
TICTM and other work environments characterised by high ICT use can pose health risks for workers: stress, anxiety, headaches and eye-strain are downsides linked these environments.
Virtual presenteeism is an increasing phenomenon in the digitalised work context and specifically among TICTM workers. While it might benefit workers by enabling them to carry out tasks while sick, it can also jeopardise their health and reduce performance.
Contrary to common perception, not all workers with a TICTM arrangement are high-flyers with better-than-average working conditions. Around one in four are in jobs with precarious conditions, including lack of access to training, low wages and job insecurity.
The executive summary for this publication is available in PDF format.
This section provides information on the data contained in this publication.
Tables
Table 1: Work arrangements compared in the report
Graphs
Figure 1: Shares of workers by type of work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 2: Shares of workers (employees and self-employed) with a TICTM arrangement (%), Member States, 2015
Figure 3: Prevalence of types of work arrangement, by sector, EU28, 2015
Figure 4: Shares of workers with a TICTM arrangement, by sector and occupation (%), EU28, 2015
Figure 5: Shares of workers, by TICTM type, gender and age, EU28, 2015
Figure 6: Factors influencing the impact of TICTM on work–life balance
Figure 7: Correlation between flexible working time and TICTM, Member States, 2015
Figure 8: Scores on autonomy index, by work arrangement, EU28 and five Member States, 2015
Figure 9: Shares of workers who rarely or never have enough time to do their job (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 10: Scores on work intensity index, by work arrangement, EU28 and five Member States, 2015
Figure 11: Shares of workers reporting working more than 48 hours per week (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 12: Shares of workers reporting a reduced rest period (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 13: Scores on working time quality index, by work arrangement, EU28 and five Member States, 2015
Figure 14: Shares of workers reporting work–home interference (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 15: Shares of workers reporting work–life balance problems (%), by work arrangement and presence or absence of children, EU28, 2015
Figure 16: Conceptual model for exploring the relationship between health and ICT use at work
Figure 17: Association of job demands and job resources with health outcomes
Figure 18: Effect of ICT use at work on health outcomes
Figure 19: Shares of workers reporting headaches and eyestrain (%), by frequency of ICT use, EU28, 2015
Figure 20: Shares of workers reporting stress, anxiety and fatigue by frequency of ICT use (%), EU28, 2015
Figure 21: Shares of workers reporting presenteeism, by frequency of ICT use (%), EU28, 2015
Figure 22: Effect of TICTM on health outcomes
Figure 23: Association of types of work arrangements and health outcomes
Figure 24: Shares of workers reporting fatigue, headaches and eyestrain, and anxiety (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 25: Shares of workers reporting presenteeism (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 26: Monthly average earnings in euro, by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 27: Shares of workers who received employer-paid training (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 28: Shares of workers who participated in on-the-job training, by work arrangement (%), EU28, 2015
Figure 29: Shares of workers who report that their job offers good prospects for career advancement (%), by work arrangement, EU28, 2015
Figure 30: Highest level of regulation linking TICTM and work–life balance, by Member State
Figure 31: Approximate coverage of regulations that include TICTM linked to work–life balance, Member States
Figure 32: Presence and nature of legislation linking TICTM and work–life balance, Member States
Learn more about the authors of this publication.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2020), Telework and ICT-based mobile work: Flexible working in the digital age, New forms of employment series, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
ISBN
978-92-897-2043-4
Number of pages
66
Reference no.
EF19032
ISBN
978-92-897-2043-4
Catalogue number
TJ-04-20-008-EN-N
DOI
10.2806/337167
Permalink
http://eurofound.link/ef19032
28 July 2020
