TELEWORK AND WORKER HEALTH: AN ANALYSIS FROM A HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Telework is a form of work organization driven by the advancement of information and communication technologies, allowing professional activities to be carried out outside the employer’s premises. Although it may provide greater flexibility and autonomy, this form of work may also contribute to work intensification, hyperconnectivity, and difficulty in establishing boundaries between professional and personal life, with possible repercussions for workers’ health and fundamental rights. This study aimed to analyze the impacts of telework on workers’ health, considering aspects related to the organization of professional activities, work intensification, and the difficulty of establishing boundaries between work and personal life. A bibliographic and documentary study was conducted, involving the analysis of scientific publications, labor legislation, and documents related to the topic. The results indicated that telework has positive effects associated with flexibility and reduced commuting, but may also involve ergonomic risks, physical and mental overload, extended working periods, continuous professional availability, and difficulty separating work from private life. The findings also showed that health protection remains necessary regardless of where work is performed and must be reconciled with the preservation of workers’ privacy and private life. It is concluded that the right to disconnect constitutes an important protective instrument in the context of the digitalization of labor relations, contributing to the preservation of rest, health, dignity, and balance between professional and personal life.