A recent study by the FHNW School of Applied Psychology and the University of Neuchâtel sheds light on the advantages and disadvantages and provides tips on design.
Working away from the office - especially from home - has become increasingly important in Switzerland, not least due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This opens up numerous opportunities, but also brings with it a number of challenges. Researchers from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW and the University of Neuchâtel have conducted a comprehensive study to shed light on the effects of home office practices on the well-being and job satisfaction of employees.
About the "Homeoffice Pulse" study
In order to obtain comprehensive information on the topic of working from home, researchers from the FHNW School of Applied Psychology and the University of Neuchâtel surveyed over 2,300 employees from all language regions and age groups in Switzerland.HomeOffice Pulse
Happier in the home office?
Encouragingly, the study shows that employees who have the opportunity to work from home tend to have lower levels of fatigue and higher levels of job satisfaction than those who cannot use this option. However, it is important to note that there is no significant correlation between the number of home office days and general well-being and job satisfaction. More days working from home therefore does not automatically lead to greater well-being or increased job satisfaction.On the contrary: more days in the home office have a significant disadvantage: loneliness! A third of those surveyed stated that they felt lonelier working from home than in the office. At the same time, spending more time working from home makes people feel less connected to their colleagues. On the other hand, time spent working from home increases the feeling of autonomy.
Moderate measure
In summary, it can be said that spending more time working from home has both positive and negative consequences. The findings of this study offer organizations valuable impulses for the design of their home office guidelines: In order to take advantage of the benefits of working from home without the disadvantages outweighing the benefits, a moderate level of around two days working from home per week is recommended. Flexible working arrangements specific to the company are crucial. At the same time, it is important to actively tackle challenges such as maintaining social contacts in the working environment in order to promote positive experiences when working from home.For example, it is advisable to organize a team day on which all team members are in the office and there is sufficient time for informal discussions. By gaining a better understanding of the dynamics of working from home, organizations can provide their employees with optimal support in mastering the complexity of this modern form of work and thus increase their satisfaction and productivity.
Participate
Employees and line managers are currently being sought for a long-term study from the perspective of employees and their line managers.Info & registration
