A scientific study by the University of South Australia has been underway for 4 years in search of answers on how remote work affects workers’ health, happiness, and job performance. The study began before the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing remote work to be studied both during lockdown and under normal conditions. The results will please those who prefer this type of work: both mental well-being and sleep health improved, reducing work stress and even achieving healthier eating habits.
All this is thanks to the work-life balance achieved by working from home. However, it was also observed that not sharing a physical space with coworkers negatively affected team cohesion, company culture, and spontaneous collaboration, although productivity remained intact.
Working remotely
How many times have we seen internet videos of people pretending to be teleworking when they are actually doing other activities? And I’m not referring to putting a load of laundry in or washing the dishes between meetings, but rather taking a nap, receiving visitors, or even going to the beach with the computer! This is one of the main concerns of companies, as without visual control over employees, working time might be less than expected. However, many people work under this modality and perform their jobs without any questionable behavior, doing so perfectly.
How does remote work affect a worker’s personal life?
Four years ago, the University of South Australia began a study to examine how remote work affects people’s health, happiness, and job performance. The study started before the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing researchers to assess the impact of teleworking both during lockdowns and in normal situations.
What were the results of the research?
If you are someone who supports teleworking, the results of this study will prove you right. Levels of rest and stress were analyzed, as well as mental well-being and eating habits. Regarding rest levels, employees reported that on average they had added an extra half hour to their sleep each night, thus reducing stress levels. Although it is true that during the lockdown there was a reported increase in alcohol consumption and anxiety levels, the reality is that these effects returned to normal at the end of the lockdown.
Most workers felt less tired and mentally more stable. Notable are the changes in dietary health: staying at home promoted work-life balance with greater access to home kitchens. What might have been snacks or refreshments in the office became fruits, vegetables, and dairy products at home.
Is working remotely all rosy?
Although most of the results were positive, there are also certain negative aspects of telecommuting. Not having a physical space to meet with your team, such as an office, can diminish aspects like team cohesion, company culture, or spontaneous collaboration among employees, due to the lack of in-person contact. However, these aspects do not constitute critical weaknesses for the company, considering that performance is not affected by remote work.