- A survey of more than 9,700 workers say they believe that working from home is hurting their mental health
- Isolation, lack of work-home separation identified as key problems
- Results highlight need for companies to have mental health resources available
The sudden shift to remote work accommodations during the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the possibility that companies will continue work-from-home arrangements even after social distancing protocols are lifted. Many employees have also shown an interest in working remotely at least part of the time, capitalizing on benefits such as a more flexible schedule and lack of commute.
However, a majority of workers have also experienced some of the negative effects of prolonged remote work arrangements. In a survey of more than 9,700 people by the anonymous professional network Blind, 66 percent of respondents said they thought working from home had negatively affected their mental health. The issues most likely to be reported included a sense of isolation and an increase in working hours due to the breakdown in the separation between work and home.
Blind says the survey highlights the need for companies to identify employees’ mental health needs and connect them to resources.