The post-pandemic era has seen a surge in remote working around the world. Now that employees have experienced its benefits, around 98% of them want to continue working remotely in some capacity. 

While many employers have obliged, it’s not all smooth sailing. Remote work has some downsides. If you’re not careful, it could affect employee mental health, lower morale, and hamper productivity. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of remote work for employee well-being. We’ll also explore how combining remote and office work can improve employee mental health and boost performance—helping you strike the perfect balance. 

What is employee mental health, and how is it linked to remote work?

Employee mental health refers to how employees think, feel, and behave at work—and consequently in their personal lives. Good mental health is crucial for employees to work productively, manage stress, and contribute to company goals. 

Here’s how remote work shapes different aspects of employee mental health: 

• Work-life balance: Impacts employees’ ability to balance their professional duties with their personal obligations, hobbies, and lifestyle. 
• Relationships: Plays a role in how employees build relationships with their managers, connect with their colleagues, and develop a sense of belonging at work. 
• Physical health: Determines the extent to which employees can improve their physical well-being. This can be through exercise, adequate sleep, healthy meals, and more—all of which are closely tied to mental health. 
• Stress management: Affects employees’ capacity to cope with and access support for work-related stressors, such as deadlines, workload, and interpersonal conflicts. 
• Psychological well-being: Contributes to employees’ overall state of mind and their ability to prevent depression, anxiety, and burnout. 

The benefits of remote work on mental health

Here’s how remote work can improve employee mental health. 

Reduces the stress of commuting

Let’s face it—no one likes spending hours commuting. Crowded buses and trains, jammed roads, and air and noise pollution can be a frustrating experience at the start of your employee’s day. A recent study found that people who drove to work or had long commute times reported poorer mental health outcomes. 

Saves time and money

Did you know it costs your employees up to $6,000 per year for travel, parking, and food? And that’s after accounting for home food and energy bills. Global Workplace Analytics showed that working remotely even half of the time saves employees up to 11 working days.

Improves work-life balance

Remote working gives employees more flexibility with their time, allowing them to manage their personal and professional responsibilities. All that without compromising on either and, importantly, without experiencing stress. 

Additionally, it gives them time to indulge in other interests and hobbies that bring them happiness and satisfaction. One survey found that 91% of workers felt they had a better work-life balance since working remotely. 22% were happier in their jobs than full-time office workers. 

Increases autonomy and control

Remote work typically gives employees a great degree of control over where, when, and how they work. This means they can set an ambiance of their choice, work from home, a cafe, or even abroad, and complete tasks at their own pace, so long as they stick to deadlines. 

Not only does this reduce stress, but research also shows that perceived autonomy is one of the biggest contributors to job satisfaction. 

Leads to better physical health

Finally, remote workers are more likely to take the time to stretch, exercise, get some fresh air, and prepare healthy meals from the comfort of their homes. A healthier lifestyle improves physical health, reduces stress, and boosts overall mental health and well-being. 

The challenges of remote work on mental health

Despite its many advantages, remote work can also have some negative effects on employees’ mental health. 

Isolation and loneliness

Working remotely decreases employees’ contact—including incidental contact—with each other, their manager, and company leaders. There are no coffee breaks, water cooler chats, or in-person conflict resolution. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. In fact, in one survey, 23% of remote workers reported struggling with loneliness. 

Blurring of work-life boundaries 

In the same survey above, 71% of respondents said it wasn’t easy to set boundaries when working remotely. Without a clear separation between work and personal space, it can be hard to switch off from work. This can lead to longer working hours and potential burnout. 

Lack of structure

Remote workers—especially those without a home office or access to a coworking space—can find it difficult to feel motivated and manage their time productively without the office setting. This can lead to performance issues that, in turn, result in low employee confidence and morale. 

Physical health issues 

Many offices provide employees with good ergonomic setups, including suitable and comfortable chairs, eye-level monitors, sit-stand desks, and more. Remote workers don’t always have access to these benefits. This can lead to musculoskeletal issues like back and neck pain, eye strain and headaches, and other health problems that cause stress and anxiety. 

Find the right balance between home and office work with WebWork Time Tracker

In a recent survey, nearly half of 5,600 employees said they preferred a hybrid work arrangement split between remote and office work—to get the best of both worlds. 

About 70% of employers have already embraced hybrid working. Platforms like WebWork Tracker are helping them make this transition while boosting employee mental health and performance. 

WebWork offers a range of productivity tools, from tracking employees’ work hours and activity levels to monitoring the apps and websites they visit. These tools allow you to identify those who might be struggling with motivation and provide them with extra support. 

The software’s task management tools can also help you check workloads and progress to prevent overworking, while time and attendance tracking ensures that even remote workers are getting enough downtime.  

Furthermore, the platform’s chat and video meeting tools help remote workers stay connected with coworkers, reduce social isolation, and experience a sense of support and community from anywhere.  

Get started with a free trial, or request a demo today.