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Title: Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on office worker productivity and work experience
BACKGROUND: With the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations embraced Work From Home (WFH). An important component of transitioning to WFH is the effect on workers, particularly related to their productivity and work experience. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to examine how worker-, workspace-, and work-related factors affected productivity and time spent at a workstation on a typical WFH day during the pandemic. METHODS: An online questionnaire was designed and administered to collect the necessary information. Data from 988 respondents were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Overall perception of productivity level among workers did not change relative to their in-office productivity before the pandemic. Female, older, and high-income workers were likely to report increased productivity. Productivity was positively influenced by better mental and physical health statuses, having a teenager, increased communication with coworkers and having a dedicated room for work. Number of hours spent at a workstation increased by approximately 1.5 hours during a typical WFH day. Longer hours were reported by individuals who had school age children, owned an office desk or an adjustable chair, and had adjusted their work hours. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight key factors for employers and employees to consider for improving the WFH experience.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1763134
PAR ID:
10330382
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Work
Volume:
69
Issue:
4
ISSN:
1051-9815
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1171 to 1189
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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