The paradox of remote work: When employee wishes and wellbeing collide

ABSTRACT

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed a surge in remote work, ushering in a ‘new normal’ whose nuances and ramifications are yet to be fully understood. In a recent study, leveraging data from a large representative panel study of Norwegian workers, we explored the prevalence of remote work, identified the demographic profiles of remote workers, and investigated their work experiences. This exploration extends to contrasting the experiences of those in home offices with their non-remote counterparts, focusing on work-related health and performance outcomes. The findings reveal a paradox where remote work, despite its perceived benefits, holds potential downsides, particularly in terms of work-life conflict and occupational health. This article aims to shed light on these less-discussed adverse effects, challenging the predominantly positive narrative surrounding remote work. We contend that there is a perceptual bias amongst employees who may overemphasise the positives of remote work, while our data indicate that its implications are not uniformly beneficial. Incorporating insights from related literature, we discuss these findings in the broader context of remote work’s impact on wellbeing and organisational dynamics, contributing a balanced perspective to the ongoing discourse on post-pandemic work arrangements.

KEYWORDS:

• remote work
• wellbeing
• occupational health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Ethical approval from the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research was obtained prior to data collection (project number 739786) and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Additional information

Funding

This research is funded by a grant from the Research Council of Norway [project number 324839].