Eating, Drinking, Ouching: Working From Home

People are eating, drinking more, and feeling more physical pain as working from home enters a second quarter for people who were able to work remotely as the COVID-19 pandemic closed offices in March and April.

Those were a couple of the working from home downsides revealed by a survey conducted by Chubb. But despite the negatives, a large majority of workers want to keep at least partly working from home after the pandemic subsides.

Chubb said up to 30% of the American workforce was able to work from home.

Of those who were able to work remotely, 70% reported they were at least as productive and 83% said they worked the same or more hours.

Apparently, those who are younger or wealthier were more likely to feel more productive working remotely. Nearly half of workers between 20 and 35 felt more productive.

Also, nearly half of wealthy respondents felt more productive. “Wealthy” was defined as an income of at least $500,000.
As they worked from home, many of the respondents were having some trouble creating a work/life balance. Many were able to maintain regular work hours, but the separation invariably broke down from there.

Many were also hurting more with aches and pains affecting 41% of the respondents. The groups who reported being more productive – the wealthier and younger respondents – also said they were experiencing more pain.

Part of the reason for the extra pain might be the tendency to not set up their workspaces appropriately, with only about a quarter of remote workers setting up ergonomically safe spaces.

But what people are definitely doing more of while working from home is eating more food and drinking more alcohol.

Methodology: The Chubb survey, entitled Resilient, Committed, Engaged and Worried: The Experiences and Risks of Americans Working from Home During COVID–19, polled 1,202 Americans, aged 20 to 65 years of age, who started working remotely as a result of COVID-19.

Steven A. Morelli is editor-in-chief for InsuranceNewsNet. He has more than 25 years of experience as a reporter and editor for newspapers and magazines. He was also vice president of communications for an insurance agents’ association. Steve can be reached at smorelli@adnewsfeedback.com.

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Steven A. Morelli is a contributing editor for InsuranceNewsNet. He has more than 25 years of experience as a reporter and editor for newspapers and magazines. He was also vice president of communications for an insurance agents’ association. Steve can be reached at steve@innemail.com.