Advantages and disadvantages of working online with a view of mental health consequences: Experiences gained during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic has put traditional forms of work and education on hold for many institutions. The impact of the transition to "online" work and education mode on mental and education on mental health is particularly interesting. The primary objective of this paper was to to identify advantages and disadvantages of transition to the online work regime that were additionally exacerbated by the pandemic (managerial aspect). The secondary objective was to consider this impact on the mental health of the individuals (socio-psychological aspects). A review of the literature published so far related to the work and teaching process in the Covid-19 pandemic recommends an online regime whenever possible. The results in the labor market domain indicate that if a person is self-disciplined, does not require supervision, has clear tasks and motivation, the online regime provides a number of benefits to such an employee, and consequently to the employer. On the other hand, for people who find motivation to work primarily in contact with colleagues, require supervision, lack self-discipline, as well as for those who aspire to managerial positions, teleworking does not give favorable results. In the field of teaching, in online education, quantitative analysis shows an improved success of pupils and students, but raises the question of whether this success is backed by real knowledge. The identified health consequences for individuals exposed to long-term online interaction regimes are, primarily: burnout syndrome, isolation from friends, problems in family relationships, experience of reduced happiness at home, general poor health and lack of sleep. It is likely that this regime will continue to some extent in the foreseeable future; work organizations and educational institutions will need to implement formalized policies that take into account support for managing the boundary between work and home activities, role clarity, workload, performance indicators, technical support, facilitating networking and training for managers.