Introduction: Numerous studies conducted during or prior to the COVID-
19 pandemic have examined the management of teleworking, but few
contributions have looked at so-called 'hybrid' forms of work. This study
aims to understand the issues surrounding these recent forms of work,
focusing on the role of certain factors to better explore the issue of
micromanagement: the intrusion of work outside working hours via
technology, the existence of systems for monitoring working hours, and
policies for disconnecting from work.
Methods: During the summer of 2023, the French Telework Observatory
launched a national survey of French employees. As part of our study,
we focused on respondents who combine teleworking with on-site work
(N = 2811). The participants in this study come from different sectors of
activity. Of these, 60% were women, and a quarter of the sample was
under the age of 40.
Results: When the organisation of remote work was based on
agreements within the team (vs. improvised or determined solely by the
supervisor), participants had a higher level of positive mood and less
tension in their private life. Perceived family tensions and symptoms of
physical and psychological discomfort are significantly lower among people who declare that their employer implements disconnection
measures than among those who declare the opposite. Regression
analysis confirmed that solicitations to work outside working hours via
technology, improvised organisation of remote work and the presence of
perceived control over working hours are significantly associated with an
increase in tension in the private sphere.
Discussion: The results warn of the risks of micromanagement and
underline the importance of telework planning, through participative
measures involving the team, as well as policies in favour of the right to
disconnect. The cross-sectional nature of the study and the use of selfreported
data are among its limitations.