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A Qualitative and Longitudinal Study on the Impact of Telework in Times of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Anne-Sophie Maillot

    (Psychology Department, Parisian Laboratory of Social Psychology, University Paris Nanterre, 92000 Nanterre, France)

  • Thierry Meyer

    (Psychology Department, Parisian Laboratory of Social Psychology, University Paris Nanterre, 92000 Nanterre, France)

  • Sophie Prunier-Poulmaire

    (Psychology Department, Parisian Laboratory of Social Psychology, University Paris Nanterre, 92000 Nanterre, France)

  • Emilie Vayre

    (INSERM Unit U1296, Psychology Institute, Lumière University Lyon 2, 69365 Lyon, France)

Abstract

Mandatory teleworking has become a major tool of public authorities for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 when work activity allows it. A lexical and morphosyntactic analysis was performed with 22 employees interviewed at home by phone on two occasions during and after a national lockdown (April 2020 and March 2021). The results indicate that the organizational changes initially implemented became sustainable and highlight a change in work practices. Changes in working time structure were observed and led to a feeling of intensification and/or increase in working hours. The preservation of the professional bond through informal exchanges required a deliberate communicative effort. The lack of face-to-face social relations deprived employees of both their usual ways of working and the meaning they found in them. Finally, the continuation of the health crisis (phase 2) and the multiple reorganizations generated a decrease in wellbeing (mental wear and tear). Employees feared that the company’s management would retain a working model based mainly on remote working.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne-Sophie Maillot & Thierry Meyer & Sophie Prunier-Poulmaire & Emilie Vayre, 2022. "A Qualitative and Longitudinal Study on the Impact of Telework in Times of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:14:p:8731-:d:864534
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eugenia Țigan & Radu Lucian Blaga & Florin-Lucian Isac & Monica Lungu & Ioana Anda Milin & Florin Tripa & Simona Gavrilaș, 2022. "Analysis of Sustainable Communication Patterns during the Telework Period in Western Romanian Corporations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Gregor Murray & Dalia Gesualdi-Fecteau & Christian Lévesque & Nicolas Roby, 2023. "What makes work better or worse? An analytical framework," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(3), pages 305-322, August.
    3. Ranka Popovac & Dragan Vukmirović & Tijana Čomić & Zoran G. Pavlović, 2025. "Evaluating the Impact of Remote Work on Employee Health and Sustainable Lifestyles in the IT Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-23, September.
    4. de la Torre-Ruiz, José Manuel & Ferrón-Vílchez, Vera, 2024. "Determinants of managerial perceptions of the impact of telework: The effect of information communication technology support, trust, and frequency of communication," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    5. Damola Victor Akinwande & Georgios Boustras & Omoye Mary Akhagba & Chizubem Benson, 2025. "Socio-Economic Impacts of Crisis Management: A Focus on Lockdown and Remote Work Effectiveness During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Merits, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-22, May.
    6. Anthony Macedo & João de Abreu e Silva & Patrícia C. Melo, 2026. "COVID-19, teleworking, and firms’ office-related decisions: an emerging literature," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Joseph Crawford, 2022. "Working from Home, Telework, and Psychological Wellbeing? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    8. Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez, 2023. "A Configurational Evaluation of Spanish Teleworkers’ Perception and Nonperception of Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, July.

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