Working from home and mental health
This transition to home working has been hailed as a step forward for health and well-being in the workplace
Remote working
Remote working was on the rise before the pandemic, but it was a rarity. Following the introduction of a national lockdown and a work from home order by the government in March 2020, home working became the new normal for huge swathes of the population
A better work-life balance
Throughout the pandemic, employees have realized how much of their time was being taken up by work, even if they weren't in the office. The morning commute and journey home in the evenings made the working day much longer. By contrast, being home-based and not having to drive or take a long train journey to work every day allows extra time for:
- Sleeping and relaxing.
- De-stressing and not thinking about work.
- Spending time with family.
- Taking children to and from school.
- Picking up new hobbies.
- Being more productive.
Increased productivity
There continue to be conversations around how productive employees truly are while working from home.
Happier people
Combining a better work-life balance with increased productivity,
Does working from home have a downside?
Despite the positives of working from home, it isn't suitable for everyone. It also has its downside when not implemented effectively. Some cons of working from home might be:
It can be easier for employees to overwork unintentionally - an increased risk of overworking also increases the likelihood of work-related stress and, consequently
Increased loneliness without social interaction with colleagues - working from home can sometimes feel isolating, especially if employees had to make the adjustment from a hectic office environment to sitting alone at their desks
Employees can feel as though they aren't a part of a team - the lack of communication with co-workers can create a workplace disconnect. This might impact on jobs since staff aren't always able to speak to someone when they need help quickly, and are forced to wait for someone to communicate information with them.
Struggling to "switch off" at the end of the day without the commute home - the car or train journey home is many people's time to unwind after a busy day
Lack of space to set up equipment and work efficiently - not everyone has an office at home, or space to set up a desk and chair provided by their company. This can not only negatively impact someone's ability actually to do their job, but also create feelings of being trapped.
Increased costs of running a home office (lights, central heating, water, food, making adaptations for furniture) - when employees are working from an office, they don't have to think about how much it costs for the heating to be on, or to switch a light on. There might also be an office cafeteria. However, while working from home, although workers might be saving on travel, money has to be spent on running their homes for longer.
Anxiety around face-to-face interactions when they occur, as virtual meetings become the norm - when Zoom or Teams meetings become common practice in the workplace, it can be very daunting to face the real world again when a social event occurs.
Technical difficulties - on a practical level, working from home can present challenges with technology, as workers must rely on their own internet connections to be able to do their jobs, and there is no office technician to call over when problems arise.
The personal approach - while the pandemic has proved that in-person meetings aren't critical to the success of a business, they do sometimes make discussions easier. If an employee wants to discuss a sensitive matter with their boss, virtual meetings can also be ineffective, as they don't feel as personal, resulting in workers not feeling supported.
What are the benefits of office working?
Some people were desperate to get back to the office after 18 months of full-time remote working or brief stints back in the workplace. Office working comes with many positives for employees too, despite not being compatible for everyone.
Closer connections
One of the downsides reported during the pandemic was workers feeling isolated. It can be a real shock to the system to be working independently all of a sudden after being surrounded by colleagues day in, day out. Many people felt less connected to their co-workers and managers, missing the type of camaraderie that is best shared in person and doesn't convey over video.
Over a fifth of respondents to the Westfield Health survey said they felt lonely more often during the pandemic, and that human connection is still important in our jobs.
You can spot struggling employees
One of the most difficult aspects of being separate from colleagues is that employees may not be able to spot issues with their colleagues' well-being. Seeing employees face-to-face means they can spot visual signs of stress more easily, and take them to one side for a quiet chat. Remote employees, meanwhile, might not manifest discernible signs of stress and may not proactively seek help.
When it comes to well-being and performance reviews for employees, in-person catch-ups can offer an engaging, safe environment that cannot be replicated via Teams.
Is remote working or office working better for employee well-being?
So, which is better? Office working or working from home?
There isn't a definitive answer.
Many employees are not demanding either entirely remote working or full-time office working. Rather, various studies over the past two years have highlighted that they overwhelmingly want flexible and hybrid working options. An Ernst & Young (EY) survey found that 9 in 10 employees want flexible working to continue.
Westfield Health says it's shocking then that 31% of businesses aren’t offering any flexible working options to employees.
"Giving employees the option to benefit from the perks of both home working and office-based working is essential. The flexibility is beneficial to their well-being, satisfaction and productivity. Now that employees have had a taste of hybrid working, the EY survey found that over half of employees would quit their job if flexible working wasn't available. It's clear how important flexible working now is to the UK and global workforce."
The debate about whether remote or office working is best has raged for years and was thrown into sharp relief by the pandemic. Westfield Health says the truth is that there's no definitive answer to which is better, since both have their benefits.
"Different styles of working suit different people, and offering employees flexible working that incorporates remote and home working might be the best option. It allows them to reap the benefits of both while remaining satisfied."
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