The adoption and use of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions in companies are on the rise and with this rise comes several health effects. One kind of these health effects, called technostress affects employees and self-employees while using ICT for telework. The aim of this study has been to create a deeper understanding of the factors that are stressing employees and self-employees that has the opportunity to work flexible work hours using ICT. A qualitative research method including interviews has been used to gather data for this thesis. My findings suggests that awareness of the stress factors in different areas makes it easier to avoid getting affected by them. These stress areas are (1) reachability, (2) ICT and flexible work hours, (3) Work, information and technology overload and (4) Separation between work and leisure. I expect that this study will contribute to broadening the awareness of these stress factors.

The Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 dramatically increased teleworking opportunities for federal employees. The increase in the number of teleworking employees presented numerous challenges for federal managers attempting to establish social networks, teamwork, and organizational commitment for their employees. This study used the case study design with a socio-technical conceptual framework as the basis to explore the strategies managers used. Data were collected via semistructured interviews with federal managers of teleworkers located in the Midwest region of the United States. A coding strategy was employed to organize the transcripts from the interviews into themes, and methodological triangulation was utilized by comparing the interview data with data from federal teleworking documents. From these analyses, 10 themes emerged: group meetings, knowledge-sharing networks, management of teleworkers, teleworker agreements, teleworker equipment, challenge of team building, telework as a reward, limitation on days teleworked, training, and flexibility of teleworkers. Managers incorporating these themes into best practices could have the tools and strategies to effectively implement and manage teleworking programs by helping to improve organizational commitment, teamwork, and socialization. The strategies could also help alleviate the isolation that some federal teleworkers experience. Widespread adoption of these strategies by managers could lead to increased teleworking opportunities for employees, thereby saving energy, reducing greenhouse gases, and reducing traffic congestion.

With the increased use of teleworkers, it is important to understand how teleworker attitudes are related to the willingness to accept and follow guidelines that maintain data security in the telework environment. The objective of the study was to evaluate the application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the idea of subjective norms as a means of explaining teleworker compliance in using information technology (IT) security guidelines in a telework environment. A sample of 150 respondents who considered themselves formal and informal teleworkers and were eligible for membership in The Telework Exchange completed an original Teleworker Security Survey. Descriptive and linear regression analyses were used to determine relationships existing between willingness to follow organizational teleworker data information security guidelines and practices. The findings of the analyses demonstrated that Personal Attitude, Social Pressure, and Sense of Control represented a weak to moderate model for explaining teleworker willingness to follow an organization’s security guidelines. This study is significant to organizations with teleworkers by identifying insight on attitudes of teleworkers regarding data security, sense of control and sense of responsibility teleworkers have regarding the confidentiality and integrity of data, and the intent of teleworkers to follow security protocols in a telework environment.

With the increased use of teleworkers, it is important to understand how teleworker attitudes are related to the willingness to accept and follow guidelines that maintain data security in the telework environment. The objective of the study was to evaluate the application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the idea of subjective norms as a means of explaining teleworker compliance in using information technology (IT) security guidelines in a telework environment. A sample of 150 respondents who considered themselves formal and informal teleworkers and were eligible for membership in The Telework Exchange completed an original Teleworker Security Survey. Descriptive and linear regression analyses were used to determine relationships existing between willingness to follow organizational teleworker data information security guidelines and practices. The findings of the analyses demonstrated that Personal Attitude, Social Pressure, and Sense of Control represented a weak to moderate model for explaining teleworker willingness to follow an organization’s security guidelines. This study is significant to organizations with teleworkers by identifying insight on attitudes of teleworkers regarding data security, sense of control and sense of responsibility teleworkers have regarding the confidentiality and integrity of data, and the intent of teleworkers to follow security protocols in a telework environment.

M. Tech. (Office management and Technology) Vaal University of Technology| / Telework can be defined as a flexible work arrangement, where selected employees work at home one or more days per week or at a site near home, instead of physically travelling to a central workplace. Telework has progressed globally, especially during the past decade to a work option that has an impact on commerce and industry in a most beneficial manner. This flexible work arrangement emerged in organisations because of the development of information and communication technology (ICT) that forms the key component of the teleworkers equipage. This investigation focussed on telework aspects, such as the effects on the environment, quality of life and economic effects. It is evident that telework generates significant benefits to the corporate environments, improves work and personal life experiences for human resources, improves environmental and social circumstances and has resulted in a significant paradigm shift in the corporate arena. The investigation also identified barriers that constrain managers from implementing telework. The investigation furthermore determined how South Africa, in particular, might benefit socioeconomically Inferential conclusions indicate that telework could counteract many of South Africa's transport and related socio-economic problems that pose detrimental consequences for the environment and other resources, as is the case in many other countries.

The rapid advancement of computer and telecommunications technology has made working in the home a practicality. Dubbed ?telecommuting,? this manner of work describes a circumstance where the employee, through the use of some form of telecommunications device (most often a computer with some form of modem), works at a location other than a centralized office (Hill, Hawkings & Miller, 1996). In many cases, the location of work is the home. Current estimates place the number of telecommuters in the United States at 19.6 million and growing (Swoboda & Grimsley, 2000). However, while emphasis has been placed on the positive consequences of telework, thus far little attention has been given to the latent negative consequences of telecommuting. The focus of this work is to develop a theoretical paradigm that explains how telecommuting may potentially contribute to abuse in home. The types of abuse targeted by the theoretical paradigm are: child, spouse, and elder abuse. In particular this model helps identify those telecommuters who are at greatest risk for the perpetration of abuse. This model is informed by a stress paradigm of abuse and identifies five variables that are considered to be crucial in affecting violent outcomes among telecommuters: 1.) socioeconomic status / occupational status; 2.) gender; 3.) crowding; 4.) social isolation; and, 5.) boundary control. How these variables interact within the telecommuting paradigm is described. Ultimately this work serves as a platform from which future empirical research may be conducted. / Master of Science

Tobulėjant informacinėms technologijoms bei plintant jų naudojimui, sukuriamos galimybės net ir sudėtingą, aukštos kvalifikacijos reikalaujantį darbą atlikti ne tik įprastu būdu darbovietės patalpose, bet ir namuose ar kitose vietose, t. y. nuotoliniu būdu. Atkreipiant dėmesį, į tai, kad nuotolinis darbas suprantamas gana įvairiai, darbe pateikiamos tarptautiniu lygiu bei Lietuvoje egzistuojančios nuotolinio darbo sampratos ir sąvokos, lyginant su panašius teisinius santykius apibūdinančiais terminais, bei įvardinamos nuotolinio darbo rūšys. Pažymėtina, kad nuotolinio darbo samprata, atsiradusi JAV, ilgainiui formavosi bei išplito. Šiuo metu Europoje vyraujančiai nuotolinio darbo sąvokai (angl. – telework) ir sampratai būdingi šie pagrindiniai minėto teisinio santykio bruožai – tai darbo vietos nesutapimas su darbdavio darboviete bei informacinių technologijų naudojimas atliekant darbą. Tačiau Lietuvoje egzistuojanti nuotolinio darbo samprata yra platesnė, apimanti tiek Europoje vyraujančią nuotolinio darbo sampratą, pabrėžiančią informacinių technologijų naudojimą, tiek ir tradicinį namudinį darbą, kai darbas atliekamas namuose, neišskiriant konkrečių darbo priemonių. Nuotolinis darbas, nors yra viena iš darbo sutarties rūšių, įtvirtintų Darbo kodekse, tačiau pasižymi išskirtinumu. Be būtinųjų ir privalomųjų darbo sutarties sąlygų, numatytų Darbo kodekse, Nuotolinio darbo sutarties ypatumai numato ir kitas sąlygas, kurias būtina aptarti nuotolinio darbo sutartyje. Tai –... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / With the development of information technologies and the spread of their use, new possibilities are created – the complex, high-skilled jobs can be performed not only in the normal work place in employer’s premises, but also at home or other places – remotely. Noting that teleworking is understood quite differently, the paper presents at the international level and Lithuania existing concepts and definitions of telework, relating them to terms that indicate similar phenomena, and also defines the types of telework. It should be noted that the concept of teleworking, which was founded in the United States, eventually evolved and spread. The definition and concept of telework that currently prevails in Europe, has the following main features – a mismatch between the teleworker’s work place and the employer's premises and the use of information technologies while working. However, in Lithuania the existing concept of telework is broader, covering not only the concept of telework, which prevails in Europe and emphasizes the use of information technologies, but also the traditional homeworking, where the work is done at home, without the distinction of particular working equipment. Even though telework is one of the employment contracts’ types, introduced by the Labour Code, it has some uniqueness. In addition to the necessary and compulsory working conditions, set in the Labor Code, the Features of the telework employment contract provides additional conditions to be discussed in... [to full text]

O teletrabalho é uma prática que pode ser utilizada como medida de gerenciamento da demanda por transporte urbano, uma vez que tem o potencial de reduzir a necessidade de realização de viagens através da substituição de atividades presenciais, que exigem deslocamentos, pelas virtuais, realizadas com auxílio de tecnologias da informação e comunicação. Esta pesquisa procura explorar e entender como está ocorrendo a adoção do teletrabalho por empresas em São Paulo e quais são os seus principais impactos nos padrões individuais de atividades e viagens. Para alcançar este objetivo, foi realizada uma revisão abrangente da literatura seguida por dois levantamentos de dados. O primeiro consistiu em entrevistas em profundidade com representantes do departamento de recursos humanos de dez empresas, que adotavam ou não teletrabalho. Já o segundo foi realizado com teletrabalhadores e utilizou ferramentas como questionário online, aplicativo de smartphone (para coletar dados de atividades e viagens por 7 dias) e entrevistas em profundidade. As entrevistas com representantes de empresas revelam que os potenciais benefícios para as empresas e para os funcionários são os aspectos que estão motivando a disseminação do teletrabalho, mesmo que de forma lenta. Porém, por não ser ainda uma prática comum, continuam a prevalecer algumas barreiras, principalmente relacionadas à cultura organizacional. O levantamento de dados com teletrabalhadores indica que a viagem casa-trabalho e o congestionamento em São Paulo têm sido os principais motivadores para adesão, e revela diferenças importantes no comportamento relativo a viagens dos indivíduos nos dias de teletrabalho e nos dias de trabalho convencional. Enquanto o número de atividades realizadas por outros motivos que não o trabalho e o tempo a elas dedicado são similares nos dias de teletrabalho e de trabalho convencional, o número de viagens, a distância viajada e o tempo gasto em transporte se reduzem. / Telecommuting can be considered a measure for travel demand management since it has the potential to reduce trips by replacing a face to face activity, which requires travel, by a virtual one, with the use of information and communication technologies. The objective of this research is twofold: first, to explore and understand the adoption of telecommuting by companies in São Paulo and, second, to identify and to measure the main impacts of telecommuting on individuals activity-travel patterns. To achieve this aim, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, followed by two types of data collection efforts. First, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals responsible for Human Resources policies in ten companies adopting telecommuting or not. Second, a sample of telecommuters was recruited to answer to an online questionnaire and to provide detailed diary data for 7 days using smartphones, after which an in-depth interview was conducted. Interviews with Human Resources personnel revealed that potential benefits for companies and employees are the drivers behind the dissemination of telecommuting, although slow. As a yet unconventional practice, barriers continue to exist, particularly related to organizational culture. Data collection and analysis of telecommuters behavior shows that the congestion faced in the home-to-work trip is the main reason for adoption of telecommuting in São Paulo. Important differences in activity and travel behavior were observed between telecommuting and non-telecommuting days. While the number of participations and the time spent in non-work activities are relatively similar for the two types of days, a reduction occurred in the number of trips, total distance and time traveled on telecommuting days.

In a workplace marked by increasing change and competing commitments, business leaders require an increased understanding of alternative work programs. Utilizing spillover theory, motivator-hygiene theory, and adaptive structuration theory, this single case study was an exploration of the strategies that business leaders use for flexible work schedules and virtual work programs. The population consisted of 3 managerial business executives and 6 employees within a midwestern United States division of a global blood management solutions firm. The data collection process included a series of semistructured interviews, a focus group, and the assessment of company documentation. Methodological triangulation identified 5 emerging themes: program assessment and monitoring, standard set of virtual working hours, remote office setup, increased virtual communication, and promotion of quality of life. The transferability of this single case study remains with the reader and future researchers to determine. Future researchers may discover that the findings contribute to social change by better preparing organizations for success while simultaneously positioning individuals to attain optimum balance across life and work responsibilities.

O teletrabalho é uma prática que pode ser utilizada como medida de gerenciamento da demanda por transporte urbano, uma vez que tem o potencial de reduzir a necessidade de realização de viagens através da substituição de atividades presenciais, que exigem deslocamentos, pelas virtuais, realizadas com auxílio de tecnologias da informação e comunicação. Esta pesquisa procura explorar e entender como está ocorrendo a adoção do teletrabalho por empresas em São Paulo e quais são os seus principais impactos nos padrões individuais de atividades e viagens. Para alcançar este objetivo, foi realizada uma revisão abrangente da literatura seguida por dois levantamentos de dados. O primeiro consistiu em entrevistas em profundidade com representantes do departamento de recursos humanos de dez empresas, que adotavam ou não teletrabalho. Já o segundo foi realizado com teletrabalhadores e utilizou ferramentas como questionário online, aplicativo de smartphone (para coletar dados de atividades e viagens por 7 dias) e entrevistas em profundidade. As entrevistas com representantes de empresas revelam que os potenciais benefícios para as empresas e para os funcionários são os aspectos que estão motivando a disseminação do teletrabalho, mesmo que de forma lenta. Porém, por não ser ainda uma prática comum, continuam a prevalecer algumas barreiras, principalmente relacionadas à cultura organizacional. O levantamento de dados com teletrabalhadores indica que a viagem casa-trabalho e o congestionamento em São Paulo têm sido os principais motivadores para adesão, e revela diferenças importantes no comportamento relativo a viagens dos indivíduos nos dias de teletrabalho e nos dias de trabalho convencional. Enquanto o número de atividades realizadas por outros motivos que não o trabalho e o tempo a elas dedicado são similares nos dias de teletrabalho e de trabalho convencional, o número de viagens, a distância viajada e o tempo gasto em transporte se reduzem. / Telecommuting can be considered a measure for travel demand management since it has the potential to reduce trips by replacing a face to face activity, which requires travel, by a virtual one, with the use of information and communication technologies. The objective of this research is twofold: first, to explore and understand the adoption of telecommuting by companies in São Paulo and, second, to identify and to measure the main impacts of telecommuting on individuals activity-travel patterns. To achieve this aim, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, followed by two types of data collection efforts. First, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals responsible for Human Resources policies in ten companies adopting telecommuting or not. Second, a sample of telecommuters was recruited to answer to an online questionnaire and to provide detailed diary data for 7 days using smartphones, after which an in-depth interview was conducted. Interviews with Human Resources personnel revealed that potential benefits for companies and employees are the drivers behind the dissemination of telecommuting, although slow. As a yet unconventional practice, barriers continue to exist, particularly related to organizational culture. Data collection and analysis of telecommuters behavior shows that the congestion faced in the home-to-work trip is the main reason for adoption of telecommuting in São Paulo. Important differences in activity and travel behavior were observed between telecommuting and non-telecommuting days. While the number of participations and the time spent in non-work activities are relatively similar for the two types of days, a reduction occurred in the number of trips, total distance and time traveled on telecommuting days.