Trabalho remoto: análise sobre as características e percepções de técnicos administrativos atuantes durante a pandemia do novo coronavírus

Abstract

As a protective measure to face the public health emergency, servers of federal public universities were able to carry out their activities remotely, when possible, while the situation resulting from the Coronavirus lasted. The present research has as general objective to analyze the characteristics and perceptions of Administrative Technicians of Federal Universities, in relation to remote work, during the pandemic of the new Coronavirus. Participated 975 Administrative Technicians who worked from home during the pandemic period. This is an analytical, transversal and observational investigation. Data were obtained through a web survey questionnaire, created using Google Gsuite. Data were sent to an Excel spreadsheet and subsequently imported into the free software R for statistical analysis, using absolute frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, and measures of centrality (average or median) and dispersion (standard deviation or minimum and maximum) for numerical ones; the chi-square test was applied. The level of significance (α) was 5%, and the tests were considered significant when p<0.05. Females predominated, were married, being an assistant position in administration, had a lato sensu specialization and had no school-age children. They reported not having worked, in the same residence, with another person remotely during the pandemic and that they had no experience working remotely. The highest percentage mentioned having used a notebook or laptop, smartphone and router very often and never having used ergonomic equipment. The servers were very satisfied with the use of e-mail, google documents, google drive, google forms, google meet, SEI and WhatsApp. As well as, they did not take a training course for the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) before or during the pandemic. They reported that it is advantageous to carry out their activities remotely during the pandemic, with regard to flexibility in working hours, reduction of transport costs, reduction of time spent traveling, greater concentration for work performance, less interruption during work remote, being able to establish their own schedules, greater proximity to family members, however, with regard to appropriate ergonomic resources, they said it was not advantageous. They considered the lack of direct contact, in the same physical environment, with other people and carrying out activities beyond the determined time as remote very disadvantageous, they also mentioned that it was extremely disadvantageous to separate the work space and the home environment. Difficulties with internet connection, with the use of ICTs, lack of specific training, reconciling domestic activities with remote activities; in addition to the disadvantages in relation to work overload, they were associated with the female gender. As well as the reduction of transport expenses, less interruption during work, satisfaction with carrying out work activities remotely were associated with the age group. With regard to considering it feasible for their institution to adhere to teleworking after the pandemic period, 44% responded that they fully agree and 39% partially agree. It is expected that the results obtained can contribute to expanding knowledge about remote work developed by administrative technicians from public universities in Brazil.