Amsterdam, February 23, 2022 – The extraordinary pivot to a work-from-home (WFH) mode for a large segment of the world’s working population since March 2020 intensified an existing trend that began with the proliferation of digital technologies. As COVID-19 variants have cycled up and down over the past two years, flexible hybrids of the workplace modality emerged and evolved. The ongoing disruption to “business as usual” has provided a unique opportunity for researchers around the world to study accelerated change in real time, contribute to the future of work, and make a lasting impact on workforce health and well-being. The special issue of WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation dedicated to WFH is a collection of 19 studies from around the world evaluating the evolving workplace.
“While the trajectory of COVID-19 is still uncertain, one thing is clear: WFH is here to stay. There is a pressing need to optimize this evolving workplace modality for the best interests of workers, organizations, and economies,” said Co-Guest Editor Kermit Davis, PhD.
Co-Guest Editor Susan Kotowski, PhD, added, “The research in this issue explores lessons learned about the WFH pivot, draws conclusions about the challenges and opportunities, and makes recommendations on how to optimize experiences and outcomes. The consistency of the findings highlights the opportunity for a positive impact.”
Both Guest Editors are University of Cincinnati (OH, USA) faculty members, Dr. Davis at the Department of Environmental and Public Health Science, College of Medicine, and Dr. Kotowski at the Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences.
Rich with actionable insights, this special issue includes articles on research conducted around the world and covers an array of industries, (e.g., Education, Information Technology, Healthcare). Top takeaways include:
Recommendations culled from the full issue include:
With these issues addressed, WFH can be successful with respect to productivity, communication, and work-life balance, as one case study published in the issue demonstrates. Dr. Kotowski noted: "Working from home is both the present and the future. It is a complex environment that will demand the attention of both the employer and employee to ensure benefits for both."
Continuing with better understanding working from home, the Editor-in-Chief of WORK , Karen Jacobs, EdD, OT, OTR, CPE, FAOTA, and colleague Kirsten Peterson Beshay, OTD, MA, OTR/L, received a grant from the Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC) to conduct a six-month study on individuals working from home 90% of the time who use the computer more than 4 hours daily and have either an iPhone or Android phone (2019-2021 version). Participants will receive an honorarium and a Garmin smart watch after completion of the study. Expression of interest in participating in the study can be shred at: https://bostonu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EmMpWro6otdsIm
Work
Observational study
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