Remote working increases wellbeing in half of organisations – though there are serious downsides too

The Employee Wellbeing Research 2021 report, published by REBA in association with AXA Health, has revealed that more than half (52%) of employers believe that homeworking is benefitting employee wellbeing.

However, two fifths of employers (42%) report that homeworking is damaging team collaboration, which can ultimately affect knowledge sharing and team relationships.

As most employers had to shift to remote working arrangements as part of measures to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s been an opportunity to assess its value and potential downsides.

A third of employers (34%) surveyed said that homeworking harmed wellbeing – not an insignificant portion.

The report describes negative employee experiences as including increased social isolation, suffering screen overload (as that became the main channel through which to hold meetings and to communicate), the blurring of home and work responsibilities and boundaries, and increased physical inactivity.

Still, employers who took part in the research responded to the swift change in working arrangements by putting in place measures such as ‘Zoom-free Fridays’, organising virtual social events to encourage connection, and being flexible with working hours to support staff as they juggle work, family and exercise.

With regards to the latter, a huge 88% of employers said implementing flexible hours to fit employees’ own needs had a positive impact on employee wellbeing.

Download a copy of the 72-page Employee Wellbeing Research 2021 (free to REBA Professional Members and all those working for REBA Associate Members).

The author is Rima Evans, freelance contributor.