Advantages and disadvantages of teleworking in Brazilian public administration: analysis of SERPRO and Federal Revenue experiences

FILARDI, FERNANDO; CASTRO, RACHEL MERCEDES P. DE; ZANINI, MARCO TULIO FUNDÃO

doi:10.1590/1679-395174605x

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Brasil

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Paper • Cad. EBAPE.BR 18 (1) • Jan-Mar 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1679-395174605x copy

Advantages and disadvantages of teleworking in Brazilian public administration: analysis of SERPRO and Federal Revenue experiences

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

This study investigates the advantages and disadvantages of teleworking in public administration from the perception of 98 teleworkers and 28 managers at the Brazilian Federal Data Processing Service (SERPRO) and the Federal Revenue Service. Qualitative-quantitative research, consisting of questionnaires applied to teleworkers and interviews with managers, dealt with structural, physical, personal, professional, and psychological aspects. The results showed advantages such as better quality of life, work-family balance, greater productivity and flexibility, the possibility of creating standard metrics, better assessment of the workload, and reduction of costs, stress, commuting time, as well as less exposure to violence. As for disadvantages, the study identified elements such as non-adaptation, lack of communication and connection with the company, psychological problems, lack of infrastructure and control of the teleworker. The research concludes that teleworking requires a management model that makes it more adherent to the public sphere.

Keywords:
Telework; Home-office; Labor relations; Public administration

Statements for teleworkers	Completely disagree	Partially disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Partially agree	Completely agree	N/A
There was an increase in my costs for water and electricity	30.6%	11.2%	9.2%	21.4%	20.4%	7.1%
My cost for transportation reduced	1.0%	1.0%	0.0%	8.2%	83.7%	6.1%
I did not have the necessary infrastructure for teleworking	67.3%	14.3%	4.1%	8.2%	1.0%	5.1%
I had specific training to start teleworking	21.4%	12.2%	6.1%	17.3%	32.7%	10.2%
I set up my own infrastructure at home	7.1%	7.1%	5.1%	22.4%	53.1%	5.1%
There were changes in the agency`s organizational structure	43.9%	7.1%	12.2%	8.2%	8.2%	20.4%
My costs were reduced	4.1%	3.1%	3.1%	21.4%	63.3%	5.1%
The available technology is adequate	1.0%	7.1%	1.0%	20.4%	65.3%	5.1%
I am less exposed to violence	1.0%	0.0%	0.0%	7.1%	87.8%	4.1%
I am less exposed to pollution	1.0%	0.0%	3.1%	4.1%	87.8%	4.1%
I feel safer working from home	1.0%	0.0%	1.0%	8.2%	85.7%	4.1%
Domestic chores are source of distraction	44.9%	17.3%	8.2%	12.2%	9.2%	8.2%
I can do other jobs independently	30.6%	6.1%	13.3%	12.2%	13.3%	24.5%
I like to have my meals at home	3.1%	0.0%	5.1%	9.2%	76.5%	6.1%
Time flexibility is a benefit	4.1%	1.0%	3.1%	2.0%	84.7%	5.1%
My quality of life improved	1.0%	0.0%	0.0%	4.1%	90.8%	4.1%
I have less distruptions when I work	1.0%	2.0%	4.1%	16.3%	71.4%	5.1%
I have more privacy	1.0%	1.0%	0.0%	12.2%	81.6%	4.1%
The reduction in commuting time is a benefit	1.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.0%	93.9%	4.1%
My work environment is quiet	2.0%	1.0%	0.0%	10.2%	82.7%	4.1%
I am free to organize my tasks	1.0%	0.0%	1.0%	19.4%	74.5%	4.1%
Promotion in the agency has become difficult	41.8%	9.2%	17.3%	17.3%	6.1%	8.2%
My development within the agency is hindered	58.2%	11.2%	8.2%	13.3%	1.0%	8.2%
I feel motivated with the telework	2.0%	0.0%	1.0%	14.3%	77.6%	5.1%
My manager gives me tasks I am not able to carry out	72.4%	11.2%	3.1%	3.1%	1.0%	9.2%
I do not have recognition from my coworkers	64.3%	7.1%	9.2%	8.2%	4.1%	7.1%
I have more felixibility in work relations	2.0%	2.0%	17.3%	33.7%	40.8%	4.1%
My work is managed by goals	6.1%	8.2%	7.1%	19.4%	45.9%	13.3%
The oversight on the results is more accentuated for teleworkers	42.9%	6.1%	16.3%	13.3%	13.3%	8.2%
My productivity at work increased	2.0%	1.0%	7.1%	14.3%	71.4%	4.1%
The quality of my work improved	1.0%	0.0%	7.1%	17.3%	70.4%	4.1%
I did not adapt to telework	86.7%	2.0%	2.0%	0.0%	3.1%	6.1%
I feel that I lost status because of the telework	65.3%	7.1%	6.1%	11.2%	4.1%	6.1%
I fear poor assessment	67.3%	6.1%	6.1%	11.2%	3.1%	6.1%
I do not miss work as often	11.2%%	1.0%	3.1%	3.1%	65.3%	16.3%
I have difficulties to focus at home	82.7%	8.2%	0.0%	1.0%	1.0%	7.1%
There is conflict between work and family life	79.6%	6.1%	3.1%	4.1%	1.0%	6.1%
My social life is hindered	83.7%	2.0%	2.0%	5.1%	1.0%	6.1%
I have more interaction with my family	2.0%	0.0%	5.1%	19.4%	67.3%	6.1%
I have less stress with commuting	3.1%	1.0%	1.0%	4.1%	85.7%	5.1%

Statements for managers	Completely disagree	Partially disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Partially agree	Completely agree	N/A
My agency had problems implementing teleworking	42.9%	14.3%	3.6%	25.0%	3.6%	10.7%
My agency’s costs were reduced	3.6%	0.0%	32.1%	14.3%	32.1%	17.9%
My agency reduced costs with space	7.1%	0.0%	10.7%	35.7%	35.7%	10.7%
There were changes to organizational structure of the agency	60.7%	3.6%	7.1%	3.6%	0.0%	25.0%
The necessary infrastructure for telework is available	0.0%	0.0%	3.6%	21.4%	60.7%	14.3%
Specific training for teleworking is available	14.3%	10.7%	7.1%	28.6%	25.0%	14.3%
There are people with disabilities teleworking	28.6%	0.0%	21.4%	7.1%	21.4%	21.4%
Teleworkers are free to organize their tasks	3.6%	0.0%	0.0%	35.7%	50.0%	10.7%
Promotion in the agency has become difficult for them	39.3%	7.1%	17.9%	10.7%	3.6%	21.4%
It is hard to control their work	46.4%	21.4%	3.6%	17.9%	0.0%	10.7%
The teleworkers development within the agency is hindered	46.4%	7.1%	14.3%	17.9%	3.6%	10.7%
Teleworkers are motivated by telework	0.0%	3.6%	0.0%	17.9%	64.3%	14.3%
I have made mistakes in selecting teleworkers’ tasks	42.9%	21.4%	10.7%	7.1%	0.0%	17.9%
Lack of recognition from coworkers	50.0%	25.0%	0.0%	10.7%	3.6%	10.7%
I find it hard to supervise teleworkers	53.6%	14.3%	3.6%	14.3%	3.6%	10.7%
Teleworkers have flexibility in work relations	14.3%	3.6%	7.1%	28.6%	35.7%	10.7%
Teleworkers are managed by goals	3.6%	7.1%	7.1%	21.4%	50.0%	10.7%
Teleworkers are more productive	7.1%	7.1%	21.4%	17.9%	35.7%	10.7%
Some people are not suited to telework	32.1%	3.6%	7.1%	14.3%	25.0%	17.9%
There have been cases of psychological issues	42.9%	3.6%	17.9%	7.1%	0.0%	28.6%

Fundação Getulio Vargas, Escola Brasileira de Administração Pública e de Empresas Rua Jornalista Orlando Dantas, 30 - sala 107, 22231-010 Rio de Janeiro/RJ Brasil, Tel.: (21) 3083-2731 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: cadernosebape@fgv.br

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[1] Fernando Filardi - Post-Doctoral in administration from University of São Paulo; Professor and researcher at the Masters in Administration Program of IBMEC, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil. E-mail: fernando.filardi@ibmec.edu.br