**The Influence of the Environment on Teleworking Practices During the COVID-19 Health Crisis**

**Satya Lancel and Draushika Mooruth**

Laboratoire Epsylon, Montpellier, France

The study focuses on the working conditions and quality of life experienced by teleworking employees during the 2020–2021 health crisis. The objectives of the study are to explore 1) the impacts of telecommuting on quality of life, work efficiency and productivity, health at work, professional relations, and work/life balance and 2) list the conditions for successful telecommuting in the future. The survey was carried out in March 2021 among all employees of a French private-sector company. The results of the study are based on 1,611 usable responses from teleworking employees to a 43-question questionnaire. In the questionnaire, employees filled in various fields relating to the working environment. The results show that 86% of employees claim to have accommodation suitable for teleworking. However, the results also show that almost half of employees do not have a separate room in which to telework. Data analysis reveals the environment's influence on quality of life, social relationships, feelings of efficiency, and health. Indeed, teleworking in a separate room in the home significantly influences the balance between personal and professional life: very good balance for 61% of employees who have a separate room versus 42% for those who do not. What is more, employees who declare that their working environment does not allow them to telework adequately experience a greater deterioration in professional social relations, a lower sense of quality of life, a deterioration in sleep quality, a rise in stress levels, and cognitive overload. As telecommuting becomes more widespread, the work environment needs to adapt to the new professional practices it implies. The study reveals three areas for improvement in tomorrow's teleworking practices.

Satya Lancel and Draushika Mooruth

Laboratory Epsylon, University Montpellier III, France

COOPERATIVE U ENSEIGNE

LABORATOIRE EPSYLON UNIVERSITE MONTPELLIER III FRANCE

**Do you have a separate room for teleworking?**
