Trajectory of Telework in a Brazilian Labor Court During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of Working and Health Conditions According to Work Modality.

Objective: This study aimed to compare ergonomic and psychosocial risks and the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems and common mental disorders during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic according to work modality.

Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out with 659 employees between 2021 and 2022. The data were collected via web with self-administered questionnaires. The Wilcoxon and repeated-measure analysis of variance tests were used.

Results: The participants who started teleworking during the pandemic showed significant improvements in their workstations and worsening of the risks associated with rest breaks after returning to face-to-face work. Employees in telework presented a significant reduction in the intensity of musculoskeletal complaints in the last 7 days compared to those who returned to face-to-face work.

Conclusions: Although there was a reduction in the ergonomic risk after returning to face-to-face work, telework was related to better working and health conditions.