Remote workers’ perceived health during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory study of influencing factors in the IT and communications sector in Malta

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden switch to remote working that many organisations and workers were unprepared for. The study investigates the perceived impact of remote working on workers' health and influencing factors. The topic has received limited attention within published studies. A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to IT and communication remote workers in Malta (N=459). Closed-ended questions were analysed quantitatively in order to identify perceived changes in health. Open-ended questions were analysed qualitatively to determine the perceived reasons for such changes. More workers reported that their health had deteriorated than improved during the first 12 months of the pandemic. Greater proportions of remote work were associated with improved levels of health. Several factors were perceived to have influenced levels of health, including: health behaviours, such as physical activity, nutrition, and sleep; the development of disease, particularly mental health issues; work related factors, such as social support, work demands, and the blurring of work-life boundaries; and personal factors, including family life and leisure. The study concludes that remote working can be beneficial for health when workers engage in the correct health-promoting behaviours and are provided with the necessary support, both during their working and private life.

Remote work transition amidst COVID-19: Impacts on presenteeism, absenteeism, and worker well-being—A scoping review

“…The ten included studies were conducted in various countries, including Canada [ 11 , 39 ], the United States [ 40 ], Turkey [ 41 ], Portugal [ 42 ], Japan [ 43 ], the United Kingdom [ 28 , 44 ], South Korea [ 45 ], and Malta [ 5 ]. Among these studies, seven cross-sectional studies [ 5 , 11 , 28 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 45 ] provided an overview of workforce experiences during the pandemic; two were qualitative studies [ 40 , 44 ] delving into individuals’ perceptions and experiences in remote work environments; and one was an observational study [ 43 ] offering insights into the long-term consequences of remote work on worker productivity and well-being. Table 3 provides further details on the country, study population, and sample size.…”

“…It reduces their energy levels, making it difficult for workers to cope with the demanding conditions of working from home [ 41 ]. The propensity for working during non-working hours has been linked to the development of pain in multiple body areas, including the back (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.15–2.84; p = 0.01), neck (OR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.28–3.01; p = 0.002), and shoulders (OR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.31–3.60; p = 0.003), suggesting a correlation between extended work hours and physical discomfort [ 5 ]. Physical symptoms such as back pain (42.3%) and headaches (36%) have been identified among individuals experiencing presenteeism, further highlighting the detrimental effects of poor physical health on work performance [ 42 ].…”

“…A South Korean study also found that telecommuting was significantly associated with musculoskeletal (MS) pain (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.33–2.32) [ 45 ] a trend observed across various remote jobs in different countries. In Malta, 20% of participants reported pain in one area of their body, with an additional 19% experiencing pain in two body areas [ 5 ]. Back pain was the most profound issue reported (40%).…”

“…Back pain was the most profound issue reported (40%). The level of MS discomfort showed a strong correlation with the amount of exercise the participants engaged in (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.76–0.91; p < 0.001), and the level of burnout they experienced (OR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.27–1.89; p < 0.001) [ 5 ]. Those experiencing burnout reported more back (p = 0.04) and neck pain (p = 0.02), but not shoulder pain (p = 0.08).…”

“…The new virtual environment, however, has brought about many repercussions that have affected the physical (e.g., musculoskeletal pain [ 2 ]) and mental health of workers (e.g., depression [ 3 ]). These consequences, as observed in empirical research studies [ 4 , 5 ], encompass the various impacts of remote work most noticeably with heightened stress levels faced by employees who engage in work despite illness [ 6 ].…”