Marcella La Cioppa According to a review of 1,930 studies, working from home leads to a more balanced diet, reduced stress and lower blood pressure
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A comprehensive review of 1,930 studies related to working from home showed both the relative benefits and potential drawbacks of the work model in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the review showed that working from home may improve the physical and mental health of the employees.
Health benefits: Eating a Better Diet and Lower Stress
Among the reported benefits are a more balanced diet, decreased stress, and lower blood pressure. Many working-from-home employees can invest additional time in preparing healthy meals, which leads to increased fruit and vegetable consumption-fresh foods. The result has been a lower blood pressure and overall contribution to well-being.
Another powerful affiliation of remote work is with reduced levels of stress. The ability to work in an environment with which they are familiar, along with the capability to have greater control over one’s time, allows them to balance their professional and personal life more adequately. This flexible approach has had positive impacts on mental health by allowing workers to feel less pressured and more motivated.
Increased productivity and reduced absenteeism
Another great advantage is the rise in productivity that most employees find themselves experiencing. Working from home eliminates common office distractions, and a person can organize their time far more productively. Remote workspaces seem curiously well-suited to creative tasks for which the absence of noise and interruptions proves liberating.
It also indicates that working-from-home employees tend to be less sick and take fewer sick leaves. Without having to travel on a regular basis and being exposed to several infectious elements in crowded environments, employees working at home reported lower levels of sickness. Though this is beneficial for the employees, it also enhances the productivity of the business as employees can spend more time in performing their duties.
A sustainable approach to employment
Professor Neil Greenberg, a psychiatrist from King’s College London, pointed out that first and foremost, the option of working from home had to be treated as a valid and beneficial way of working. It is crucial that the organizations take responsibility in making sure that work-from-home staff can do the job as if they were working in an office environment.
Greenberg also disagreed with the current trend where some companies are reducing remote work opportunities. This has increased friction between employees and employers. Such steps to return to office requirements are retrogressive and counterproductive, since they can lead to the loss of talent by companies and make them less resilient for the next emergency.
Source: Journal of Occupational Health
