Promoting remote workers' psychological health: Effective management practices during the COVID‐19 crisis

The aim of this study was to identify specific management practices that promote the psychological health of remote workers in the context of the COVID‐19 crisis. A two‐round Delphi study was conducted among 28 teleworkers and 22 managers. A list of 60 specific management practices was presented and participants had to identify whether each one could be used in the current remote working context and, if so, how useful it was to promote psychological health at work. Results indicate that most specific management practices usually used in a face‐to‐face setting can also be used in a remote context (85%). Practices that show consideration, establishing work structure, and allowing flexibility were also identified as the most useful to promote remote workers' psychological health during the pandemic. This study contributes to the advancement of knowledge about specific management practices, remote working, and crisis management. It also suggests specific practices that managers can adopt to promote the psychological health of their employees during a period of crisis, even while managing from a distance.

[Teleworking and its repercussions in the Senegalese context during the covid-19 pandemic]

PURPOSE

To describe the repercussions of teleworking among the employees of an humanitarian agency based in Dakar, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We carried out a transversal, descriptive study, from june 10 to 13, 2021. An anonymous online questionnaire, created via Google Survey platform, was sent to the various employees of this agency.

RESULTS

Married people were more numerous (76%). The average age was 45.7 yearsold. The employees lived in families of an average of six peoples. The most enumerated advantages of teleworking were the economic gains linked to the absence of travel (88%), the improvement of work / family balance (84%), the increase in efficiency (64%) and feeling of freedom felt (56%). On the other hand, the increase in working time (96%), low back pain (72%), the family environment often not very favorable to teleworking (52%) and the decrease in social ties between colleagues (60%) were the main limitations of teleworking.

CONCLUSION

It has many advantages and also has limitations. These could be minimized by better organization and psychological support for the staff.