Watch the webinar - #AskTheExpert: Making telework work for everyone – lessons from the pandemic for a digital age

The debate

Research experts Oscar Vargas and John Hurley shared Eurofound’s latest knowledge on remote work. The newly published research tracks the highs and lows of telework throughout 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the enormous potential of this way of working.

Since 2020 more European workers and managers have enjoyed greater flexibility and autonomy in work and are reporting their preference for hybrid working. Also driven by ongoing technological developments and structural changes in employment, organisations are now integrating telework more permanently into their workplace.

To reflect on these shifts, Oscar and John explored the challenges and opportunities of the surge in telework, as well as the overall growth of telework and teleworkable jobs in the EU and what this means for workers, managers, companies and policymakers.
Moderated by Mary McCaughey, Eurofound’s Head of information and communication, the lively discussion unpacked the new telework findings and address pressing questions, such as:

• How did telework impact on working conditions in 2020-2021 and what did we learn?

• Was teleworking influenced by gender? How did women really fare with teleworking during the pandemic?

• What challenges do teleworkers and managers face, including disconnecting from work or implementing hybrid work across teams? And how do workers feel about digital monitoring?

• Can remote working be a way to support different groups in the labour market such older workers and more disadvantaged groups?

• And with more people working from home, are existing regulations and EU frameworks fit for the digital age?

Watch the webinar

Links

• Publication: The rise in telework: Impact on working conditions and regulations

• Podcast: Eurofound Talks - Telework

• News: Eurofound Talks Telework

• Topic: Teleworking

• Publication: Recovery from COVID-19: The changing structure of employment in the EU

• Publication: Telework in the EU: Regulatory frameworks and recent updates