Effects of Intensity of Teleworking and Creative Demands on the Cynicism Dimension of Job Burnout

Abstract

The study of the effect of virtual work environments on the emotional health of employees has received considerable attention in recent years. However, there has been insufficient research on how uninterrupted exposure to high job demands can lead to permanent stress, which deteriorates interpersonal relationships, to the point of draining them of affection. The study aims to examine the impact of telework intensity on cynicism (second dimension of burnout or depersonalisation) through two indirect effects: creativity and the number of days teleworked per week. A sample of 448 university-educated employees from the Colombian electricity sector was selected, who completed an online survey. The data were statistically analysed using a simple moderation model. In general, the results show that telework intensity favours employee behavioural adaptation, which buffers potential depersonalisation, through key characteristics such as: perceived social support, participation in decision-making, sense of autonomy, gender equality and reduced work-family conflict. However, when the tasks associated with teleworking require creative solutions continuously, and the employee’s resources are not properly managed, recurrent stress can lead to an emotional fracture that deteriorates the employee’s well-being. In conclusion, the protection of the employee’s emotional health depends on a balanced workplace structure that avoids a constant mismatch between available resources and creative demands.