Telha
A comprehensive review of academic literature on post-pandemic workplaces suggests that remote work promotes healthier eating, reduced stress, and lower blood pressure, yet it also reveals that remote workers are prone to increased snacking, alcohol consumption, smoking, and weight gain.
Contrary to stereotypes of laziness, remote workers are less likely to take sick leave, often work longer hours, and frequently extend their work into evenings and weekends.
The review, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emergency Preparedness and Response, considered 1,930 academic papers on various forms of remote work, aiming to synthesize the often conflicting findings.Dr. Greenberg, a researcher involved in the review, emphasized the importance of optimizing the home working environment for effectiveness, highlighting the shift from traditional office settings to remote work culture.
The study, published in the Journal of Occupational Health, identified three key themes: the home working environment, its impact on workers’ lives and careers, and its effects on their health.
Greenberg noted that while some aspects of remote work yield positive outcomes, there are winners and losers across different facets of home working, influenced by factors such as available space, equipment, and workers’ control over their schedules.
