Telework during the COVID-19 epidemic in Portugal and determinants of job satisfaction: a cross-sectional study

Sousa-Uva, Mafalda; Sousa-Uva, António; e Sampayo, Marta Mello; Serranheira, Florentino

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12295-2

BMC Public Health

Table 1 Characteristics of the respondents who self-reported to be in telework in the four weeks prior to filling out the study questionnaire

From: Telework during the COVID-19 epidemic in Portugal and determinants of job satisfaction: a cross-sectional study

Variable	Categories	n	Frequency (%)
Socio-demographic and self-rated health
Sex	Men	245	24.40
	Women	759	75.60
	Missings	0	0.00
Age group	20–29 years	80	7.97
	30–39 years	249	24.80
	40–49 years	393	39.14
	50–59 years	216	21.51
	≥ 60 years	66	6.57
	Missings	0	0.00
Education	Less than High School	76	7.70
	Graduation	459	46.27
	Master degree	340	34.27
	PhD	117	11.79
	Missings	12	1.20
Marital status	Single	279	27.79
	Married or in an union	601	59.86
	Widowed	14	1.39
	Divorced	110	10.96
	Missings	0	0.00
Children’s at home	None	514	51.20
	1 child	211	21.02
	2 children	236	23.51
	3 or more children	43	4.28
	Missings	0	0.00
Self-rated health	Good or very good	732	72.90
	Average	26	2.60
	Bad or very bad	246	24.50
	Missings	0	0.00
Telework satisfaction, organization of working time, concentration at work, work life balance and work disconnection
Telework satisfaction	Yes	690	68.80
	No	313	31.20
	Missings	1	0.10
Intention to perform telework in the future	Yes, permanently	99	9.86
	Yes, in part time	604	60.16
	Yes, sporadically	218	21.71
	No	83	8.27
	Missings	0	0.00
I am satisfied with the balance between work life and extra work when teleworking	Totally agree or agree	534	53.10
	Neither agree nor disagree	100	10.00
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	370	36.90
	Missings	0	0.00
I know when I must disconnect work to be able to rest when teleworking	Totally agree or agree	499	49.70
	Neither agree nor disagree	77	7.70
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	428	42.70
	Missings	0	0.00
Number of hours teleworking compared to usual	More hours than usual	597	59.46
	Fewer hours than usual	95	9.46
	Identical to the number of hours previously worked	312	31.08
	Missings	0	0.00
Establishment of a working time during teleworking	Always	466	46.40
	Sometimes	411	40.90
	Rarely	127	12.60
	Missings	0	0.00
Taking breaks when working with the computer	I don’t take breaks	49	4.90
	I take short breaks sporadically	631	62.80
	I take several regular breaks	324	32.30
	Missings	0	0.00
I can concentrate better when teleworking	Totally agree or agree	531	52.90
	Neither agree nor disagree	210	20.90
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	263	26.20
	Missings	0	0.00
Organizational work demands
I feel that the work demands are much greater when teleworking	Totally agree or agree	576	57.30
	Neither agree nor disagree	199	19.80
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	229	22.80
	Missings	0	0.00
Flexibility
My work is so flexible I could easily take time off e-working remotely, if and when I want to	Totally agree or agree	315	31.40
	Neither agree nor disagree	156	15.50
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	533	53.10
	Missings	0	0.00
My supervisor gives me total control over when and how i get my work completed when e-working	Totally agree or agree	165	16.40
	Neither agree nor disagree	115	11.50
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	724	72.10
	Missings	0	0.00
My line manager allows me to flex my hours to meet my needs, providing all the work is completed	Totally agree or agree	215	21.40
	Neither agree nor disagree	138	13.70
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	651	64.80
	Missings	0	0.00
Organizational trust
My organization trusts me to be effective in my role when e-work remotely	Totally agree or agree	756	75.30
	Neither agree nor disagree	145	14.40
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	103	10.30
	Missings	0	0.00
I trust my organization to provide good e-working facilities to allow me to e-work effectively	Totally agree or agree	551	54.90
	Neither agree nor disagree	144	14.30
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	309	30.80
	Missings	0	0.00
My organization provides training in e-working skills and behaviours	Totally agree or agree	342	34.10
	Neither agree nor disagree	217	21.60
	Partially disagree or Strongly disagree	445	44.30
	Missings	0	0.00
Equipment used at home and working conditions
Equipment used in telework	Computer (tower) and peripherals	94	9.40
	Laptop without peripherals	457	45.50
	Laptop computer with peripherals	437	43.50
	Other (tablet; mobile phone; ...)	16	1.60
	Missings	0	0.00
Mousepad (mouse interface panel on the laptop) use	Always	204	44.70
	Sometimes	114	25.00
	Rarely	138	30.30
	Missings	1	0.22
How the top of the laptop monitor look when sitting in relation to the horizontal	Above eye height	23	5.10
	At eye level	141	31.00
	Below eye height	291	64.00
	Missings	2	0.44
How the top of the computer monitor look when sitting in relation to the horizontal	Above elbow height	74	17.9
	At the same height as the elbow	218	51.9
	Below elbow height	128	30.5
	Missings	111	20.90
Height of the external keyboard when using periphericals	Above elbow height	109	28.70
	At the same height as the elbow	255	67.10
	Below elbow height	16	4.20
	Missings	151	28.44
My company support internet payment	Yes	43	4.30
	No	961	95.70
	Missings	0	0.00
I feel good in my workspace at home	Always	625	62.30
	Sometimes	346	34.50
	Rarely	33	3.30
	Missings	0	0.00
Lighting in the workplace at home where you are teleworking	Adequate	822	86.80
	Inadequate	125	13.20
	Missings	57	5.70
Health and Safety at Work gave support on how to adapt furniture and computer equipment	Yes	246	24.50
	No	758	75.50
	Missings	0	0.00

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ISSN: 1471-2458

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