Leanne
31 Oct 2023
Working from home: what does the research say?
Since the global Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent rise of hybrid and remote working models, many organisations and research authorities have published data looking into the physical impact of working from home, highlighting the importance of having a robust system in place to optimise, monitor and improve your employees’ working conditions.
Musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent among office workers; increasing H&S and HR costs for employers, and placing strain on our public health systems. One study has revealed that around 50% of office workers suffer with neck and upper limb pain, and over 30% display lower back pain(1).
Medical studies have also found links between office work and a number of conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as RSI, bad posture and muscle weakening in the legs.
Research by the RSPH found that overall, more people felt working from home was better for their health and wellbeing (45%), and the vast majority of people surveyed didn’t want to go back to working in an office full time, with nearly three quarters of people (74%) saying that they wanted to split their time between home and on-site working(2).
However, people who switched to working from home because of Covid-19 had experienced an impact on their health and wellbeing, including 46% exercising less, and 39% developing musculoskeletal problems. Nearly half (48%) of people who work from a sofa or bedroom said they had developed musculoskeletal problems(2).
In most cases, there are steps employers can take, and the right support and early intervention tools can provide employers with qualified strategies on safe working environments, physio-approved tips to pass to employees for at-home exercises, and education on resources and steps that can be taken to help staff who need further advice.
As a result of their findings, the RSPH is calling for all employees to have access to equipment and a remote assessment to support them with their physical health, which is where All Set Workplace comes in with our remote working assessments, online training and reporting platforms.
Don’t let the wellbeing of your team conform to these statistics: buck the trend and contact us today to find out more or book a demo: https://www.allsetworkplace.com/request-demo
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8057194/
