Efectos psicológicos del teletrabajo sobre los trabajadores: Evidencia en España[Psychological Effects of Teleworking on Employees: Evidence from Spain]

Teleworking in Spain has experienced a steady growth since the beginning of the 21st century. In 2006, only 5.22% of Spanish workers engaged in this modality, and growth remained minimal until the COVID-19 crisis. Since 2020, countless studies have been published on the effects of this work model on teleworkers due to its increased use stemming from health restrictions applied during the pandemic. However, few studies aim to analyze the psychological effects of teleworking on Spanish workers, focusing on job satisfaction, work-life balance, anxiety, or work fatigue. In this article, I aim to shed some light on the effects of teleworking between 2010 and 2015. The results reveal a clear improvement in the work-family balance and a decrease in fatigue levels among teleworkers. Nonetheless, there are other variables of interest that enhance these conditions, such as public employment, the worker's educational level, or the number of weekly working hours. In summary, I seek to present a contextual framework on the evolution of teleworking in Spain, its effects before the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, and review the existing literature on the benefits and drawbacks of teleworking, as well as the paradoxes related to its effects that have recurred over the years.