The risks and false myths of teleworking that many employees and employers repeat

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the teleworking mechanism is here to stay. Many of the companies that were forced to adopt this remote way of continuing business decided to maintain it or establish a hybrid in which, for part of the week or in specific areas, the workers are in person; and in the other part, of time or areas, they are from home.

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Few had teleworking as a practice before the presence of COVID-19 in our lives. Some institutions, for which it was new, noted that performance and productivity were not affected, and that they generated savings in the expenses required to have an operational office, such as electricity, drinking water, internet, security services, food , among others. Working at home also has some advantages for collaborators; one of them is the saving of time and fuel generated by commuting to work; some have had more interaction with their family, which is positive.

According to occupational doctor Rodolfo Rodríguez, behind these benefits there are risks that arise from this new normality. One of these, and perhaps the most important, is the ergonomic risk, whose appearance occurred because not all workers were equipped to carry out their work activities from home. According to Rodríguez, some of his patients worked from their dining rooms, with plastic chairs, without adequate lighting and with technological equipment that did not provide the necessary comfort.

‘They paid me by partial contract of four hours a day in person, but I completed eight and worked until Sundays from home,’ says a worker hired in the pandemic

Diana Pilco, who leads the Occupational Health and Safety area of ​​the multinational company 3M Ecuador together with Rodríguez, refers to three myths about bad postures when typing on the computer.

Myth #1: Working eight hours straight improves productivity

Fake. It is proven that working for a long time can cause eyestrain, pain in the neck, shoulders, hands and wrist. This causes a deficit of attention and physical fatigue, which translates into low productivity.

Myth #2: Active breaks do not prevent pain

Fake. Taking an active break that includes stretching of the limbs improves blood circulation and prevents numbness in certain areas that are considered critical, such as the wrists. In fact, the medical literature indicates that musculoskeletal disorders can appear, such as tendinitis, one of the best known being carpal tunnel syndrome.

Myth #3: Ergonomic chairs are an unnecessary expense

Fake. Many business owners do not invest in these types of chairs, which can be expensive if considered an expense as such. But there is a return on investment, since it is more expensive when a collaborator is absent due to a musculoskeletal injury and stops being productive. (YO)