Telework, Hybrid Work and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: Towards Policy Coherence
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Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
2
School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Hyo Sun Jung
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9222; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169222
Received: 31 July 2021
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Revised: 10 August 2021
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Accepted: 13 August 2021
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Published: 17 August 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telework and Its Implications for Sustainability)
With increased participation in telework expected to continue, in the aftermath of COVID, it will be important to consider what long-term impact this practice could have on sustainability outcomes. This paper describes a scoping review and identifies connections between telework and sustainability outcomes from previous academic studies. These connections were categorised, and are discussed, based on their contributions to different United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Most research was found to focus on countries classified as having a very high human development index status. The SWOT matrix technique was used to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses identified in the existing literature, and the threats and opportunities for future work. This aims to ensure policy coherence so that strategies to promote one outcome, such as economic productivity improvements, do not undermine another, such as improved health. Practical implications and research opportunities were identified across a range of SDG impact areas, including good health and well-being, gender equality, reduced inequality, climate mitigation, sustainable cities, and resilient communities. Overall, our impression is that increased rates of telework present an important opportunity to improve sustainability outcomes. However, it will be important that integrated and holistic policy is developed that mitigates key risks.
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Keywords:
telework; hybrid work; working from home; sustainability; UN sustainable development goals; SDG; policy coherence
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MDPI and ACS Style
Moglia, M.; Hopkins, J.; Bardoel, A. Telework, Hybrid Work and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: Towards Policy Coherence. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9222. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169222
AMA Style
Moglia M, Hopkins J, Bardoel A. Telework, Hybrid Work and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: Towards Policy Coherence. Sustainability. 2021; 13(16):9222. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169222
Chicago/Turabian StyleMoglia, Magnus, John Hopkins, and Anne Bardoel. 2021. "Telework, Hybrid Work and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: Towards Policy Coherence" Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9222. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169222
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