WFH is linked to worse mental health – but it’s a big boost for some

Fully remote workers who live alone are most at risk for mental health problems, but experts say the ability to work from home is also crucial in improving outcomes, especially for people with poor mental health to begin with.

As the Victorian government moves to lock in the right to flexible work, some recent papers have linked the increase in working from home to worse outcomes in mental health and loneliness.

One paper, released earlier this month in the Science journal, found that American workers who could work remotely spent more time working alone, avoided social activities with friends and remained more isolated even after work – especially if they lived alone. These people sometimes spent “entire days without human contact”, according to the paper, and their mental distress, use of mental healthcare, and antidepressants “increased acutely”.

However, support for working from home in Australia remains relatively robust, with this masthead’s Resolve Political Monitor last year indicating about two-thirds of voters supported proposals for a new right to work from home. In June, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan introduced draft legislation into state parliament to enshrine the right to work from home two days a week for millions of employees who can “reasonably do their job” remotely.

Bond University organisational behaviour associate professor Libby Sander says there are problems with the US study, including the fact that it is unclear whether people with mental health challenges are more likely to choose to work from home rather than remote work itself leading to worse mental health.

“All the other evidence shows flexible work can improve mental health and job satisfaction,” she says, with a hybrid model generally proving the most effective.

People living alone and working fully remotely are more likely to face loneliness or mental health challenges, so should spend more time in the office, Sander says, but just going to meetings and attending the office isn’t a panacea.

“There needs to be structured opportunities for social connection inside and out of work,” she says. “Two to three days a week is the sweet spot to avoid commute stress, interact with loved ones and engage in hobbies, but it’s highly individualised.

“Introverts, for example, might not like the modern, open-plan office and could be more productive at home.”

Sydney University associate professor in public health Michelle Lim says fully remote workers are most at risk of loneliness, especially if they are on lower incomes or living in a rural or remote area, but that it is hybrid workers – not those in the office all the time – who are best connected and able to be more productive at work.

Lim says taking sick and working while sick are both (separately) more likely among people who are lonely.

Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and Social Research associate professor Ferdi Botha, who has examined Australian data on mental health and remote work, says working from home about half of the time appeared to be the sweet spot.

Both women and men tend to benefit from a mental health perspective, he found, but in different ways.

Working at least 50 to 75 per cent of the time from home is beneficial for the mental health of Australian women suffering from relatively poor mental health, Botha says, while for men suffering from poor mental health, the benefit tends to be from reduced commute times.

“We think it’s partly got to do with the fact that we still see women do a lot more housework and unpaid work than men do, and that the ability to work from home allows more flexibility,” he says. “Whereas if they were in the office full-time, the pressures to juggle [paid] work and work in the home is a lot higher.”

However, Australian Psychological Society president Kelly Gough points out working from home can come with challenges such as struggling to switch off from work and being less present with loved ones, and that remote workers may experience feelings of isolation.

“For some people, without the spontaneous interactions of an office, the comfort of staying home may make socialising feel like extra effort,” he says, making it important to make an intentional effort to stay connected with others and maintain a healthy routine outside of work.