Teleworking in Manufacturing: Dealing with the Post-Pandemic COVID-19 Challenge

Ignacio Fontaneda (), Yurena Prádanos, Oscar Jesús González Alcántara, Miguel Ángel Camino López, Antonio León García Izquierdo and Amparo Osca Segovia
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Ignacio Fontaneda: Department of Organization Engineering, Burgos University, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Yurena Prádanos: Department of Organization Engineering, Burgos University, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Oscar Jesús González Alcántara: Department of Organization Engineering, Burgos University, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Miguel Ángel Camino López: Department of Organization Engineering, Burgos University, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Antonio León García Izquierdo: Department of Psychology, Universidad de Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Amparo Osca Segovia: Faculty of Psychology, National University for Distance Education (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain

Administrative Sciences, 2023, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: The quantity of teleworkers had already been rising in various work fields even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was not until the pandemic that it spread to other sectors such as the industrial sector. There are still few studies looking at telework’s impact on this important sector. This article is intended to discuss: (1) the extent of teleworking in manufacturing, (2) its adjustment to the industrial sector (challenges and benefits), and (3) its prospects for the future. To this end, 31 in-depth interviews have been conducted with four Plant Managers and seven Human Resource Directors of 11 industrial companies in Burgos (Spain) and surroundings, as well as 20 of their workers. Pre-pandemic teleworking was only active in one of the enterprises and now there are workers that work remotely in 9 out of 11. All interviewees agreed that teleworking will gradually expand. The study shows concerns and challenges when it comes to communication, trust, control, and productivity. It highlights the importance of establishing clear policies on teleworking and how to deal with remuneration, expense reimbursements, and equity between teleworkers and on-site workers. Overall, industrial-sector teleworking has brought positive results in terms of productivity and job satisfaction levels, but it has also resulted in new demands on aspects such as ergonomics, negative habits (food and physical inactivity), communication, and work–life balance.

Keywords: telework; working conditions; human resources in manufacturing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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