Telework: systematic literature review and future research agenda

Abstract

Given the work and life conditions imposed by the 'new normal' Covid-19 era, a massive shift towards telework is expected and will likely continue long after the pandemic. Despite the resurgent interest in telework as an important aspect of ensuring business continuity, the literature base remains fragmented and variable. This study presents a taxonomical classification of literature on teleworking along with a comprehensive bibliography and future research agenda. To this aim, a systematic literature review methodology was adopted drawing on an evidence base of 40 articles published in high-ranking journals during the years 2000-2020. Findings capture key developments and synthesize existing areas of research focus. Important insights and gaps in the existing research are also pinpointed. The study may stimulate future research, represent a reference point for scholars interested in telework and at the same time provide an added advantage to managers for understanding crucial dimensions thereof.

Remote Working and Home Learning: How the Italian Academic Population Dealt with Changes Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

“…Pre-pandemic studies emphasized both the advantages and difficulties of teleworking. Teleworking can facilitate flexibility in working spaces and times, greater autonomy, responsibility and work-life balance, reduced travel time, greater concentration on work and privacy [34,35]; but teleworkers have often faced some pitfalls, such as technostress, difficulties to maintain boundaries between work and nonwork, or professional isolation [36][37][38] and the evidence of the positive effect of telework on well-being and on performance-related outcomes was equivocal [39][40][41].…”

Telework and Mental Health during COVID-19

“…Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the virtual work regimen had been increasingly adopted around the world, due to the recognition of benefits to those developing their professional activity from home: a more flexible regimen and the promotion of greater worker autonomy [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Telework consists of having a remote work location and the use of ICTs to work [ 9 ]. Based on the literature, there are three main categories of telework: regular home-based telework (work from home regularly through ICTs); high mobile telework (work with mobility in several places regularly through ICTs) and occasional telework (work in one or more places outside workplace occasionally) [ 10 ].…”

Part-time or full-time teleworking? A systematic review of the psychosocial risk factors of telework from home

“…Therefore, the present review was prompted by the fact that thousands of people have experienced teleworking since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic and given the tendency of this practice to become more commonplace in the near future. There is also an apparent acceleration of the political agenda in many countries toward regulating this work modality [13]. Given that systematic reviews can yield evidence and information to help inform the development of policies and regulations, this study aimed to highlight the differences between the psychosocial risk factors comparing part and full-time teleworking from home.…”

“…Among the previous available systematic reviews on teleworking, no differentiation was made between the place and frequency basis of teleworking, i.e. part and full-time [13][14][15]. In order to provide supporting background on the topic of teleworking, the ensuing sections outline: 1) Terms, definitions and forms, organizations of telework; and 2) Psychosocial factors in teleworking and the model used as a conceptual framework for organizing and guiding the discussion of the literature.…”