The Covid-19 Crisis and Telework: A Research Survey on Experiences, Expectations and Hopes

39 Pages Posted: 14 May 2020 Last revised: 16 Apr 2023

See all articles by Stijn Baert

Stijn Baert

Ghent University; University of Antwerp; Catholic University of Louvain (UCL); Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Louis Lippens

Ghent University

Eline Moens

Ghent University

Johannes Weytjens

Ghent University

Philippe Sterkens

Ghent University

Abstract

While a considerable number of employees across the globe are being forced to work from home due to the COVID-19 crisis, it is a guessing game as to how they are experiencing this current surge in telework. Therefore, we examined employee perceptions of telework on various life and career aspects, distinguishing between typical and extended telework during the COVID-19 crisis. To this end, we conducted a state-of-the-art web survey among Flemish employees. Notwithstanding this exceptional time of sudden, obligatory and high-intensity telework, our respondents mainly attribute positive characteristics to teleworking, such as increased efficiency and a lower risk of burnout. The results also suggest that the overwhelming majority of the surveyed employees believe that teleworking (85%) and digital conferencing (81%) are here to stay. In contrast, some fear that telework diminishes their promotion opportunities and weakens ties with their colleagues and employer.

Keywords: career, telework, videoconferencing, COVID-19

JEL Classification: J22, J28, D24, I10, J15, J24

Suggested Citation

Baert, Stijn and Lippens, Louis and Moens, Eline and Weytjens, Johannes and Sterkens, Philippe, The Covid-19 Crisis and Telework: A Research Survey on Experiences, Expectations and Hopes. IZA Discussion Paper No. 13229, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3596696. or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3596696

Stijn Baert (Contact Author)

Ghent University ( email )

University of Antwerp ( email )

Prinsstraat 13
Antwerp, 2000
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.uantwerpen.be/nl/personeel/stijn-baert/

Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) ( email )

Place Montesquieu, 3
Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.uclouvain.be/en-309318.html

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/personnel/photos/index_html?key=6832

Louis Lippens

Ghent University

Coupure Links 653
Ghent, 9000
Belgium

Eline Moens

Ghent University

Coupure Links 653
Ghent, 9000
Belgium

Johannes Weytjens

Ghent University

Coupure Links 653
Ghent, 9000
Belgium

Philippe Sterkens

Ghent University

Coupure Links 653
Ghent, 9000
Belgium

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