Hoeworking / teleworking. Atypical forms of employment: between usefulness and precariousness

The literature centered on the investigations into the implications of this activity sector, reveals that – in addition to the usual risks entailed by most atypical work arrangements, some of them even increased in the case of homeworkers and teleworkers – these workers are further exposed to the risk of social isolation, because they lack direct social contact with their peers, colleagues and organization members. The vulnerability of homeworkers is aggravated by labor legislation, as this category of workers face major difficulties in the complete, effective exercise of some rights, although the law acknowledges the equality in rights and treatment between the employees with standard work contracts, and the employees opting for flexible work opportunities. In most cases, the remuneration and social benefits granted to the latter, are lower than the payment and social benefits offered for the same type of work, to an employee working at the company’s precincts.