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What is the relationship between teleworking and well being?

What is the relationship between teleworking and well being?

Teleworking: a key issue of our time

Telework is one of the most important legacies of the pandemic. Following its massive use dictated by the stay-at-home policies imposed around the world, remote jobs are now more than four times pre-pandemic levels in many of the world’s major economies. Given this evolution of telework, many analysts predict that it will grow further and become increasingly important to our lives, generation after generation. How we will govern these new forms of work will depend on the answers that research will be able to provide to whether, for whom, and how telework affects people’s quality of life and well-being.

Teleworking and well-being: an international study

We study the relationship between telework and well-being using a mixed-methods approach. An international, interdisciplinary team will collect quantitative and qualitative data on teleworkers in Switzerland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, providing new insights into this field of study. The research spans economics, sociology, family studies and health psychology, which focuses on how social and psychological factors influence people’s quality of life.

Why social relationships matter

We use Social Network Analysis for the first time in telework research. We collect data on 3200 personal networks of teleworkers in these four European countries. We create a large database of workers’ contacts, testing hypotheses regarding the impact of working from home on social support, conflicts, interruptions and control mechanisms. In doing so, this project sheds light on the mechanisms linking telework and well-being with a specific focus on social relations, contributing to a further understanding of how telework is changing people’s lives.

Teleworking: a key issue of our time

Telework is one of the most important legacies of the pandemic. Following its massive use dictated by the stay-at-home policies imposed around the world, remote jobs are now more than four times pre-pandemic levels in many of the world’s major economies. Given this evolution of telework, many analysts predict that it will grow further and become increasingly important to our lives, generation after generation. How we will govern these new forms of work will depend on the answers that research will be able to provide to whether, for whom, and how telework affects people’s quality of life and well-being.

Teleworking and well-being: an international study

We study the relationship between telework and well-being using a mixed-methods approach. An international, interdisciplinary team will collect quantitative and qualitative data on teleworkers in Switzerland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, providing new insights into this field of study. The research spans economics, sociology, family studies and health psychology, which focuses on how social and psychological factors influence people’s quality of life.

Why social relationships matter

We use Social Network Analysis for the first time in telework research. We collect data on 3200 personal networks of teleworkers in these four European countries. We create a large database of workers’ contacts, testing hypotheses regarding the impact of working from home on social support, conflicts, interruptions and control mechanisms. In doing so, this project sheds light on the mechanisms linking telework and well-being with a specific focus on social relations, contributing to a further understanding of how telework is changing people’s lives.

Impacts of remote work on individuals' well-being

Research team

Black and white portrait of the principal coordinator of The Empty Office, Mattia Vacchiano.

Mattia Vacchiano

University of Geneva

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Stephanie Steinmetz.

Stephanie Steinmetz

University of Amsterdam

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Melanie Arntz.

Melanie Arntz

IAB

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Eric Widmer.

Eric Widmer

University of Geneva

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, koorosh massoudi.

Koorosh Massoudi

University of Lausanne

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Nicola Cianferoni.

Nicola Cianferoni

SECO

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Manal Azzi.

Manal Azzi

Internation Labour Organization

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Sander Junt.

Sander Junte

UAB

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Oscar Molina.

Oscar Molino Romo

UAB

Black and white portrait of the principale member of The Empty Office, Guillaume Fernandez.

Guillaume Fernandez

University of Geneva

Black and white portrait of the associate member of The Empty Office, Eva Pedrosa.

Eva Padrosa Sayeras

Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Black and white portrait of the associate member of The Empty Office, Stephane Cullati.

Stéphane Cullati

University of Fribourg

Research team

Black and white portrait of the principal coordinator of The Empty Office, Mattia Vacchiano.

Mattia Vacchiano

University of Geneva

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Stephanie Steinmetz.

Stephanie Steinmetz

University of Amsterdam

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Eric Widmer.

Eric Widmer

University of Geneva

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Melanie Arntz.

Melanie Arntz

IAB

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Manal Azzi.

Manal Azzi

Internation Labour Organization

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Nicola Cianferoni.

Nicola Cianferoni

SECO

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, koorosh massoudi.

Koorosh Massoudi

University of Lausanne

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Oscar Molina.

Oscar Molino Romo

UAB

Black and white portrait of the principal member of The Empty Office, Sander Junt.

Sander Junte

UAB

Black and white portrait of the principale member of The Empty Office, Guillaume Fernandez.

Guillaume Fernandez

University of Geneva

Black and white portrait of the associate member of The Empty Office, Stephane Cullati.

Stéphane Cullati

University of Fribourg

Black and white portrait of the associate member of The Empty Office, Eva Pedrosa.

Eva Padrosa Sayeras

Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Publication of Key Scientific Outputs

Scoping Review on Telework and Well-Being

Vacchiano, M., Fernandez, G., & Schmutz, R. (2024). What’s Going on With Teleworking? A Scoping Review on Its Effects on Well-Being.

Published in PLOS ONE

Research Protocol of The Empty Office

Vacchiano, M., Fernandez, G., Widmer, E., et al. (2024). The Empty Office: Protocol for Sequential Mixed-Method Study on the Impact of Telework Activities on Social Relations and Well-Being.

Published in BMJ Open

Systematic Review on Telework, Social Support, and Well-Being

Vacchiano, M., Fernandez, G., & Fernandez-Garcia, J. (2025). Mediating Effects of Social Support Between Telework and Well-Being: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Published in BMJ Open

Conferences and invited talks

Sunbelt Social Network Conference

Vacchiano, M. The Empty Office: a Network Study of Teleworking. Oral Presentation, (ISNA) Sunbelt XXXIX, Edinburgh (Scotland), 24-29st June

Swiss Sociological Association Conference

Vacchiano, M. What’s Going on with Teleworking? A Scoping review on Its Effects on Wellbeing. Oral presentation, Swiss Sociological Association Conference, Basel, 8-9th September 2024

LIVES day

Vacchiano, M. What’s going on with teleworking? LIVES day, 1st June

Life after LIVES

Vacchiano, M. The Empty Office: an international Study of Teleworking.Life after LIVES, 20th June 2024

University of Buenos Aires

Vacchiano, M. La oficina vacía : un estudio internacional sobre el teletrabajo, University of Buenos Aires, 22th December 2023

News

FOPH funds systematic review on telework & well-being

New co-funding from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) for a systematic review on telework and well-being.

Discover more

Large-scale survey on telework in Europe, data available in 2025

Conducted a large-scale survey with 4400 teleworkers across Switzerland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, collecting data on 27,000 social relations. Data accessible publicly in December 2025 on SwissUbase

Discover more

Six-month workshop at the University of Geneva on qualitative data collection

A six-month workshop at the University of Geneva (Spring 2025) based on the project is involving Master’s students in Sociology in a qualitative data collection with Network Canvas.

Discover more

Two-day workshop on Network Canvas in Geneva

A two-days workshop with Prof. Bernie Hogan (Oxford Internet Institute) on Network Canvas is scheduled for March 6-7, 2025, in Geneva.

Discover more

Eva Padrosa Sayeras awarded visiting scholar position in Geneva

Eva Padrosa Sayeras (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) joined the project and was awarded a visiting scholar position at the University of Geneva from January to April 2025.

Discover more

Call for papers for special issue in Social Indicators Research

A call for papers for a special issue based on the project data will be launched soon in Social Indicators Research (expected 2025-2026).

Discover more

Publication of Key Scientific Outputs

Scoping Review on Telework and Well-Being

Vacchiano, M., Fernandez, G., & Schmutz, R. (2024). What’s Going on With Teleworking? A Scoping Review on Its Effects on Well-Being.

Published in PLOS ONE

Systematic Review on Telework, Social Support, and Well-Being

Vacchiano, M., Fernandez, G., & Fernandez-Garcia, J. (2025). Mediating Effects of Social Support Between Telework and Well-Being: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Published in BMJ Open

Research Protocol of The Empty Office

Vacchiano, M., Fernandez, G., Widmer, E., et al. (2024). The Empty Office: Protocol for Sequential Mixed-Method Study on the Impact of Telework Activities on Social Relations and Well-Being.

Published in BMJ Open

Conferences and invited talks

International Sunbelt Social Network

Vacchiano, M. The Empty Office: a Network Study of Teleworking. Oral Presentation, (ISNA) Sunbelt XXXIX, The International Sunbelt Social Network Conference, Edinburgh (Scotland), 24-29st June

International Sunbelt Social Network

Vacchiano, M. The Empty Office: a Network Study of Teleworking. Oral Presentation, (ISNA) Sunbelt XXXIX, The International Sunbelt Social Network Conference, Edinburgh (Scotland), 24-29st June

LIVES day

Vacchiano, M. What’s going on with teleworking? LIVES day, 1st June

Life after LIVES

Vacchiano, M. The Empty Office: an international Study of Teleworking.Life after LIVES, 20th June 2024

University of Buenos Aires

Vacchiano, M. La oficina vacía : un estudio internacional sobre el teletrabajo, University of Buenos Aires, 22th December 2023

News

FOPH funds systematic review on telework & well-Being

New co-funding from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) for a systematic review on telework and well-being.

Discover more

Large-scale survey on telework in Europe, data available in 2025

Conducted a large-scale survey with 4400 teleworkers across Switzerland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, collecting data on 27,000 social relations. Data accessible publicly in December 2025 on SwissUbase.

Discover more

Six-month workshop at the University of Geneva on qualitative data collection

A six-month workshop at the University of Geneva (Spring 2025) based on the project is involving Master’s students in Sociology in a qualitative data collection with Network Canvas.

Discover more

Two-day workshop on Network Canvas in Geneva

A two-days workshop with Prof. Bernie Hogan (Oxford Internet Institute) on Network Canvas is scheduled for March 6-7, 2025, in Geneva.

Discover more

Eva Padrosa Sayeras awarded visiting scholar position in Geneva

Eva Padrosa Sayeras (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) joined the project and was awarded a visiting scholar position at the University of Geneva from January to April 2025.

Discover more

Call for papers for special issue in Social Indicators Research

A call for papers for a special issue based on the project data will be launched soon in Social Indicators Research (expected 2025-2026).

Discover more

R-Map (partner)

R-Map is a three-year project funded by the European Union and brings together 12 dedicated partners from across Europe. R-Map stands for ”Mapping, understanding, assessing and predicting the effects of remote working arrangements (RWAs) in urban and rural areas” and its mission is to comprehensively study and address the urban-rural gap influenced by remote work. R-Map’s approach includes cross-regional dialogues and policy roundtables to ensure that the findings and recommendations are applicable across diverse regions in Europe and beyond. By understanding and shaping the trends related to remote work, R-Map aims to create environments suitable for both urban and rural settings.

R-Map (partner)

R-Map is a three-year project funded by the European Union and brings together 12 dedicated partners from across Europe. R-Map stands for ”Mapping, understanding, assessing and predicting the effects of remote working arrangements (RWAs) in urban and rural areas” and its mission is to comprehensively study and address the urban-rural gap influenced by remote work. R-Map’s approach includes cross-regional dialogues and policy roundtables to ensure that the findings and recommendations are applicable across diverse regions in Europe and beyond. By understanding and shaping the trends related to remote work, R-Map aims to create environments suitable for both urban and rural settings.

THE
EMPTY
OFFICE

SNIS-funded research explores telework’s social impact, shedding light on support, conflicts, and control mechanisms, enhancing our understanding of its influence on individual lives.
This is an .svg image of the logo of the funding foundation Sniss.
This is an .svg image of the logo of the University of gENEVA

© The Empty office 2025. All rights reserved. Design Marco Spinelli Studio

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

THE
EMPTY
OFFICE

SNIS-funded research explores telework’s social impact, shedding light on support, conflicts, and control mechanisms, enhancing our understanding of its influence on individual lives.
This is an .svg image of the logo of the funding foundation Sniss.
This is an .svg image of the logo of the University of gENEVA
Privacy Policy Cookie Policy
© The Empty office 2024. All rights reserved.
Design Marco Spinelli Studio