Better or worse for mental health?

(Stacker) – It’s the ongoing debate that plays out week after week on LinkedIn. When companies call employees back into the office, a certain percentage of them leave or express dissatisfaction after working remotely successfully for a long period.

Then there is the hybrid debate. Is it hybrid once or twice a week? Four times a week might be called a hybrid, but it definitely isn’t in most people’s eyes.

Only one thing is certain: The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the landscape of working professionals.

Many companies have fully embraced a remote model and are very successful (Shopify, Airbnb and Microsoft), while others are slowly returning to pre-COVID-19 policies (Disney, Google and Amazon).

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, who has also called people into the office, had previously weighed in on the debate, saying: “People are more productive working at home than people would expect. Some people thought it would all just fall apart, and it hasn’t.”

But which environment is best for mental health? The folks at Statista wanted to find out just that, so they surveyed more than 5,000 people who worked from home, an office, or a factory.

Interestingly, according to Way.com, those who worked from home had slightly higher rates of mental health problems (46%) than those in an office (39%) or factory (42%). In terms of cooling, all three environments were essentially the same.

Digestive issues seemed to plague the work-from-home crowd the most, at 40%, compared to 34% for office workers or factory workers.

More than medical issues affect workers

While these results give a slight edge to office life, other studies looking at the well-being of remote and hybrid workers report that 88% of respondents are happier with a flexible schedule.

A study by Ergotron of 1,000 people found that 56% of those in a hybrid or remote role reported improvements in mental health and better work-life balance. Physical health in remote workers improved by 75% due to a more active work style.

There are no absolutes in the work from home debate. For some, it saves time on the commute and allows for more focus. For others, being in an office with others is best for their overall happiness.

The key in some studies seems to lie in one word: flexibility.

Perhaps Virgin Group Founder/Chairman Richard Branson put it best with his perspective: “We love giving people the freedom to work where they want, secure in the knowledge that they have the strength and expertise to perform in great way whether they are at their table or in their kitchen.”

This story was produced by Way.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.

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