Working From Home Doesn’t Hurt Productivity, Study Finds
A new study from researchers at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health shows that working remotely or from home does not negatively affect employee productivity. This is particularly relevant as companies drag employees back to the office. The study offers insight into the growing trend of working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Working from home is not just a question of productivity but also sustainability. Every square foot of glass and steel office building or concrete parking garage that is not built is a plus for the environment, as is every drive that isn’t taken to the office or, for that matter, every highway that isn’t expanded to accommodate more commuters.
The study covered employees that were only home for seven months. As many people have been at it for over two years, there is no doubt there will be many studies to come and other factors besides keystrokes and productivity.
Return-to-office Expectations
But it is also becoming apparent that many people do not want to return to the office. According to Matthew Boyle of Bloomberg, “Even the most inflexible bosses are softening their return-to-office expectations.” This includes Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, “one of the most vocal critics of remote work, arguing that it’s no substitute for the spontaneous idea generation that results from bumping into colleagues at the coffee machine.” Even he has given up after resolutely pushing ahead to demolish his headquarters and replacing it with a more prominent building that probably won’t even be needed.
Employees who have returned to the office are complaining they are commuting to the office to spend half their day on Zoom calls, which will continue to happen in a hybrid work world.
Meanwhile, the researchers conclude that companies should accept the situation and ensure their employees have decent working conditions. They suggest employers consider employee access to quiet workspace, other family responsibilities, provision of high-speed connections, access to ergonomically correct furnishings, and other potential imbalances to access, recruitment, and retention of employees.
The article is “Working From Home Doesn’t Hurt Productivity, Study Finds.“