Impact of Teleworking on the Labor Day in Spain (Atena Editora)

Abstract

The year 2020 has marked a turning point in the application of teleworking in our country. Although it has not been one of the most prodigal in this matter, almost 19% of those employed teleworked in the second quarter of 2020. The feeling of having spent many more hours than the established ones is common among teleworkers to carry out this activity in their homes. It is also common among employers that their employees spend less time working than they must when they are out of regular visual supervision. The data from the Active Population Survey include the variables of overtime worked in the last month, afternoons, nights, Saturdays and Sundays worked outside normal hours in this same period, as well as reasons that may have led to working more or fewer hours than usual in the last month, such as special Christmas or summer days, flexible hours, employment regulation files, etc. Analysis of the data shows us that there is (has been) a certain tendency to work more hours than usual when teleworking, lengthening working hours in the afternoons especially, and not so much on weekends (Saturdays and/or Sundays), or at night. Flexible schedules and teleworking have caused more hours to be worked than usual, while employment regulation files, as well as special shifts (reduced, summer, etc.) have made it easier for teleworkers to work less than usual; thus probably saving the impact of the reduction in activity on employment.