Almost a year in: Virtual offices remained an ergonomic trouble spot

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Ergonomics
• Public health

Background:

• Many individuals continued remote work arrangements nearly nine months after the COVID-19 pandemic began in spring 2020.
• The shift to remote work necessitated adjustments to home office environments and raised concerns about employee well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in home work environments and health outcomes among university faculty and staff.
• To compare current conditions with data from an initial survey conducted at the pandemic's onset.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to approximately 10,350 university employees.
• A total of 1,135 faculty and staff members completed the survey, providing data on their work setups and health.

Main Results:

• Remote work setups showed minimal changes after nine months, with most employees relying solely on laptops.
• Few participants utilized ergonomic chairs with adjustable armrests.
• High prevalence of moderate to severe body discomfort was reported: 49% neck/head, 45% low back, and 62% upper back/shoulders.

Conclusions:

• Continued remote work requires employers to provide more than just laptops.
• Essential ergonomic equipment includes external keyboards, monitors, and mice to mitigate physical strain.
• Addressing inadequate home office setups is crucial for employee health and productivity.