Working and health conditions in teleworkers in mandatory social isolation due to COVID-19: exploratory survey in Lima and Callao.

Abstract

Introduction: The socioeconomic and health situation of people have been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic; in Peru, preventive labor measures were taken to promote home working, which generated working conditions requiring special attention.

Objectives: To describe the results of an online survey on working and health conditions in workers from Lima and Callao who worked from home during the first period of mandatory social isolation due to COVID-19.

Methods: In this exploratory study, an online survey adapted from the Questionnaire on Working Conditions, Employment and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean was applied between March 21 and April 11, 2020.

Results: Of the 179 workers included, 50.8% reported doing remote work, and 49.2% teleworking; 3.9% did not have necessary computer equipment for their work activities, 54.2% required more time to finish their scheduled activities and 31.8% of workers did not have an adequate environment for home working. Regarding health conditions, more than 40% reported spinal discomfort, headache, and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions: Latent problems were identified regarding the working and health conditions of the Peruvian population working from, which may represent a burden on public health not considered in the prevention measures during the pandemic.