Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic

In brief

• In the post-pandemic era, healthcare employers and leaders must navigate decisions around use of telework arrangements made popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• PWHS collaborated with Fraser Health to assess the work and health impacts of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of identifying the short and long-term impacts of working from home and virtual work on Fraser Health employees’ physical and psychological health, as well the organizational, management, and employee practices that promote successful working from home and virtual work.
• A survey conducted in early/mid 2021 collected data on perceptions of working from home, including those related to physical and psychological health, social and peer-support, work-life balance, and productivity.
• An overwhelming majority (99%) preferred to continue teleworking to some degree and the majority (52%) preferred to telework for all work hours.
• Healthcare employers should consider that most employees who teleworked during the pandemic prefer to continue teleworking for most or all work hours, and that hybrid work arrangements are especially important for clinical telework employees.

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Contact: Suhail Marino