Does working from home work? That depends on the home

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of working from home (WFH).
• While WFH productivity is debated, the impact of the home office environment is understudied.
• Limited research exists on the link between home office conditions and employee well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between home office satisfaction and environmental factors with productivity and burnout.
• To determine the influence of home office characteristics on WFH success and employee resilience.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing the home working environment.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed over 1,000 Dutch individuals working from home.
• Employed logistic regressions and structural equation modeling.
• Analyzed self-reported data on home office satisfaction, environmental behaviors, productivity, and burnout.

Main Results:

• Home office satisfaction significantly correlates with higher productivity and lower burnout tendency.
• Increased ventilation during work hours is linked to greater productivity, WFH willingness, and burnout resilience.
• Home office satisfaction acts as a mediator for the positive effects of ventilation on WFH outcomes.
• Air-quality-improving behaviors are associated with higher home office satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Individual differences in WFH productivity are significantly influenced by the home office environment.
• Investing in a healthy and well-designed home office climate is crucial for successful and sustainable working from home.
• A holistic approach to home office design, focusing on physical climate, enhances employee well-being and performance.