1. Objectifs

Intentions :
This study aims «to explore how remote work during the pandemic lockdown affected workers psychologically and with respect to their lifestyles.» (p. 11) The study also explores how the presence of young children affects the relationship between telework and quality of life.

Questions/Hypothèses :
The authors hypothesize that the «presence of young children [will] negatively [affect] the relationship between telework and quality of life specifically, the greater the number of young children, the less positive this relationship will be. [They also hypothesise that the] presence of young children [will] negatively [affect] the relationship between telework frequency and quality of life.» (p. 7)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Data were collected «from French Canadian respondents through social networks […]. The sample consisted of people who continued to work either full-time or part-time by teleworking during the lockdown (n = 604 teleworkers out of 1160 respondents in total).» (p. 8)

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

The «study shows that teleworkers, particularly those belonging to vulnerable subgroups, experienced a decline in the quality of their life and health during the lockdown. Many challenges faced those who were unaccustomed to telework and had children at home.» (p. 13) Moreover, contrary to what was expect, «the presence of young children during a lockdown did not significantly affect the relationship between previous telework experience and quality of life. However, the presence of young children during a lockdown did strengthen the relationship between telework frequency and decline in quality of life. When the presence of young children was combined with higher telework frequency, there was less motivation […], lower sleep quality […], and less ability to undertake projects […] than before the lockdown.» (p. 10) Indeed, if «parents are forced to telework while caring for children under 12 at home because the schools and daycares are closed, they may face additional challenges to their ability to focus on their tasks and do them well. Life is made more complex by work overload, family responsibilities, and the need to care for young children, and this complexity generates conflicts in work-life balance and impacts performance and concentration […].» (p. 12)