Telework has existed for many years. The initial term used was “telecommuting” coined in 1972 by Jack Nilles. It is a work arrangement that allows an employee to perform work, during any part of regular, paid hours, at an approved alternative worksite (e.g., home, telework center). It is an important tool for achieving a resilient and results-oriented workforce. At its core, telework is people doing their work at locations different from where they would normally be doing it. This makes sense when you consider that ‘tele’ comes from the Greek word meaning “from a distance” – when combined with work it means “work from a distance.”
The recent pandemic increased exponentially the number of workers in need to do their work away from their usual worksites. The lack of preparation for this sudden and forceful transition exposed workers to unprecedented occupational physical and psychosocial ergonomic risk factors. In many ways, it also affected the workflow and productivity of many employers.
We will navigate through some of the lessons learned and best practices moving forward to guarantee a healthy and productive tele-workplace.
Steven Mandel, MD, FACOEM
Clinical Professor of Neurology
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell Adjunct professor of Medicine
NY Medical College
*Nothing to Disclose
Acran Salmen Navarro, MD, MSC
Warren Silverman, MD, FACOEM
Medical Director/CEO
Access Health Systems
This activity is designed for physicians, other health care professionals and human resources professionals who specialize in or have an interest in ergonomics.