Telework: What is impact on the Algerian employee?

Abstract

In a knowledge-based global economy, where technological progress has become the crucial link for achieving economic development, many Algerian institutions inevitability faced of the developing of their managing methods of work based on the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT). The telework is one of the growing patterns in this context it has been widely used in recent years as a new conception of work and jobs, especially during the pandemic that afflicted many countries, including Algeria. However, adopting this method of organizing work raises many problems related to its effects, especially on the individual level, namely on the employee’s quality of life, which is what the current study tries to answer. In order to do so, the writings and the basics related to telework were reviewed and discussed in the first part. While the second part was devoted to presenting the methodological framework used at field level. Based on a quantitative approach that included 142 employees from various sectors of activity, the results of the research included in the third part revealed that telework gives employees flexibility and independence in organizing their work schedule. It also contributes to reducing expenses related to the budget for transportation, meals, and childcare. In addition, telework enables employees to reorganize their social time (work time, family time) and thus, better match work and private activities, as well as reduce exhaustion resulting from various movements. It constitutes an opportunity to rest and reorganize, which in turn helps to raise productivity, according to most of the employees questioned. However, this does not negate the fact that this working method produces some undesirable effects, which are often perceived as negative consequences, as the results revealed the telework may be a source of social isolation and extension of working hours. Furthermore, the flexibility that telework gives to employees in organizing and managing working hours may lead to irregular schedules, which would blur the boundaries between family and professional lifestyle.