Determinants of healthcare employees’ preference to continue teleworking after the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study using hierarchical regression

Abstract

AbstractEmployees’ post-pandemic telework preference is an important consideration for navigating post-pandemic work arrangements and can inform organizational planning and workforce management. A cross-sectional survey of employees (n=400, participation rate =36.4%) of a regional health authority who teleworked during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted. The most common post-pandemic telework preference was all the time (52%) followed by over half but not all the time (32%) and less than half the time or not at all (16%). Using hierarchical multinomial logistic regression models and less than half the time or not at all as the reference outcome, being a provider of direct patient care and productivity while teleworking were strong determinants of post-pandemic telework preference while two or more weekly teleconference hours, work-life balance and having one or more people over five years of age in the home while teleworking were moderate determinants.