A study by Dr Luke Fiorini, Director of the Centre for Labour Studies, University of Malta has been accepted for publication in ‘Industrial Health’ an established international journal on topics related to occupational health and safety.
The study explored how remote working (teleworking) impacted upon the health of workers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. 495 workers from the IT and telecommunications sector in Malta participated.
Amongst the study’s findings, it was found that:
- The majority of participants reported a change in their level of health during the first 12 months of their pandemic. More participants reporting that their health had regressed (32.9%) during the first 12 months of the pandemic than had improved (23.1%).
- Workers who carried out a greater percentage of their work by means of remote working were more likely to report better levels of health than those who carried out a lesser percentage of their work via remote working.
The study also explored participants’ perceived reasons for such changes in health. In doing so, it highlighted how working from home, as well as the first year of the pandemic, were experienced very differently by individuals.
Amongst those who reported better levels of health, working from home was often described as a time saver, with individuals no longer wasting time commuting to work. Subsequently, they found more time for exercise, and could sleep longer hours. The added flexibility of remote working also allowed such workers to find more time to prepare more nutritious food. These individuals often described the period working from home as one of reduced stress and greater efficiency. Amongst those whose health had improved, it was reported that the added flexibility allowed for more time to be spent with their partners, children and pets, whilst some also found more time for hobbies.
Amongst those who reported that their health had deteriorated, these described becoming more sedentary whilst working from home, eating more frequently or eating more junk food, whilst COVID-19 restrictions had also at times prevented participants from engaging in specific sports or attending the gym. The period of working from home was described as one where negative feelings and mental health issues regularly developed; primarily individuals described feelings of loneliness due to the reduced levels of social contact (both work related and non-work related), whilst anxiety and feelings of uncertainty related to the pandemic were also described. Physical challenges were also described, with many individuals working from home without the correct ergonomic equipment.
Another major struggle for those whose health regressed was disconnecting from work – individuals described how difficult they could find it difficult to draw barriers between working and non-working time: this could be self-imposed, but in other cases this could be due to ongoing after-hour work communications and excessive work demands. Interestingly, workers described how digital communications had increased whilst working from home to such a point that it resulted in them falling behind in their work and having to make up for this during their non-working hours. Some workers also found it challenging to work from home whilst having to cope with other responsibilities, such as attempting to care for children whilst carrying out their work.
The study has several implications. It highlights that remote working can be a positive experience for some, characterised by added flexibility and less time being wasted in the daily commute. Conversely, for others it was a period of poorer health behaviours and the development of mental health issues. Whilst it has been debated that a hybrid approach (working a few days from home and a few from the workplace) may be the ideal approach, the study found that those who worked entirely from home were more likely to report positive health changes.
Organisations should be aware of the potential challenges faced by remote workers and consider policies that limit excessive digital communications, limit communications after working hours, and remain in touch with those workers who may find the experience of working from home as a lonely one. Health promotion initiatives, such as remote exercise classes may be of benefit, whilst managers are likely to benefit from training on how to manage remote workers.
Further information can be obtained from the author by sending an email.