Working from home stops employees from ‘switching off’

New analysis from Aviva has found that heightened anxiety during the pandemic has led to employees working longer hours and taking fewer sick days, all the while becoming less fulfilled by work and life.

The insurance company’s new report, Embracing the Age of Ambiguity’, shows that the percentage of employees that have taken zero sick days over a three-month period has risen 17 percentage points since before the pandemic (67 per cent to 84 per cent), and more than a third said they have carried on working even when they felt unwell.

‘Presenteeism’, albeit in a new form from traditional office definitions, has become even more noticeable since the pandemic began. The merging of ‘home’ and ‘work’, and the ongoing march of technology, is creating an ‘always on’ environment. Whether working when sick or working longer than their specified hours, Aviva says that this ambiguity is compounding behaviour that is detrimental to long-term employee well-being.

Inability to switch is most severe among young adults (18-24-year-olds), with 63 per cent stating that they regularly check emails outside of working hours, up from 48 per cent in February. As a result, more than half agree that they are neglecting their physical (58 per cent) and mental (55 per cent) health due to the pressures of work, and almost half say that they are troubled by how much their work interferes with their personal life.

Debbie Bullock, Wellbeing Lead at Aviva, said: “The working environment can be a key driver of mental health conditions amongst the working population, so it’s no surprise that the blurring of lines between home and work has contributed towards the increasing numbers reporting mental health issues. Our research suggests the pandemic may have exacerbated the issue. Without the usual bookends of commutes or school runs to help structure the day, many employees find it hard to switch off. Plus, juggling work and home life in the same location has been stressful for many, with employees feeling they are never entirely at work, but never fully away from it either.

“Christmas is usually a time of year when employees can switch off, but without offices to step away from, many will struggle to detach from work. Happier employees are not only extremely important for the survival and performance of organisations, but they are also a magnet for the best talent out there. Employers should take note and listen to employee concerns and better support workplace well-being.”