Examination of the Impact of Remote Working Conditions on Quality of Life

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic caused numerous workplaces to adopt remote working conditions in many sectors. The effects of the sudden lockdown in previous literature have differed largely based on characteristics related to the workplace and the individual. The effects of remote working have been studied for some occupations, but the impact of remote working on worker productivity and quality of life across numerous sectors is still inconsistent. Transitioning from in-person work environments to remote ones has been one of the largest challenges associated with working from home (WFH). The presence of others in the household, such as children and partners, has impacted productivity during WFH. In response to the abrupt onset of the remote work environment, many WFH employees were forced to take on additional responsibilities in the household due to the disruption in childcare and education services during the initial stages of the pandemic (Aczel et al., 2021; Galanti et al., 2021; Tejero et al., 2021).

WFH is viewed as a solution for many who are required to look after a dependent or for those seeking a stronger work-life balance in general (Aczel et al., 2021). However, the effect on employee productivity during WFH is in question due to the added distractions that may arise in the household (Aczel et al., 2021). The balance between work responsibilities and newfound familial responsibilities plays a role in staying productive during WFH (Tejero et al., 2021). A suitable work environment is critical to maintaining productivity in the remote work setting. Unlike the office, the home workspace may involve uncontrollable noise, loss of privacy, and comfort for some (Awada et al., 2021; Harker Martin & MacDonnell, 2012). These elements in the remote workplace may be able to be mitigated, but restrictions from WFH may prevent adjustments from being made. This is because sharing a remote workspace with others causes an individual to avoid making changes, which may impact productivity (Awada et al., 2021). Family-work conflict can arise from sharing workspaces, which likely impacts productivity in the WFH environment (Galanti et al., 2021; Farooq & Sultana, 2021).

This literature review provides further insight into the impacts that working from home (WFH) had on the productivity and quality of life of workers across occupations. The key components analyzed in this review are worker productivity and quality of life. For this study, productivity has been defined as “productivity as a combination of efficiency and effectiveness and everything that makes an organization function better” (Linna et al., 2010). Based on previous literature, three major areas of influence that affect productivity during WFH include the work environment, demographic impacts, and working conditions. The work environment consists of many factors of the WFH workspace, including the presence of others in the household, a suitable work environment, and work–family conflict. Demographic impact includes characteristics of certain demographic groups that may affect an individual’s ability to remain productive. Lastly, working conditions regarding the nature of the work being completed and existing conditions employees are exposed to daily influence overall satisfaction.