Human interactions: Employees who live on their own and spend their days isolated in their rooms with a computer quickly lose motivation (this may even result in professional burnout). The problem can be solved, for example, by organising company online meetings or virtual team building activities.
Zooming out on motivation
A study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology in 2021 found that remote workers reported lower levels of job satisfaction and engagement when compared to those who worked in a traditional office environment.
All interviewed employees indicate that their perceived productivity increases while working from home. This positive impact on productivity is mainly attributed to a higher degree of autonomy and thus increased motivation.
Remote working increases productivity and several studies show it. According to ConnectSolution, 77% of remote workers say they're more productive when working from home, with 30% doing more work in less time and 24% doing more work in the same period of time.
The fact that working remotely means many workers must juggle the demands of their working lives in very close proximity with their parenting and family responsibilities can cause even more stress.
Working from home may have a negative impact on the support they need to do their job. Working from home may also not fit in with everyone's home-life eg some people may have young children that may be unaware of boundaries and cause interruptions during the working day.
Motivation factors included in Hertzberg's theory include the work itself, growth, recognition, advancement, achievement and responsibility. When employees feel a sense of satisfaction and inclusion in all or most of these areas, their motivation is likely to increase.
It's the employer's role to facilitate employee motivation and figure out what employees need to motivate them. There are a number of ways to do this so your company becomes the one everyone wants to work for.
Work from home depression can happen when you feel stuck. Without career milestones like a new nameplate on your desk or a fancy corner office, you may not feel as if you're achieving as much as your peers. The anxiety, stress, and loneliness of working from home can lead to depression or make it worse.
Remote working ability really makes people happier
While 81% of respondents said the opportunity to work from home would make them feel more equipped to deal with work/life conflicts. Remote workers are 22% happier with their jobs than on-site workers.
This phenomenon is known as “work from home guilt”. It's the perception that you ought to be physically present in the office, worrying that others will assume you're contributing less than those who are office-bound.
One reason why remote work is so hard is because of at-home interruptions. Although many believe that working from home boosts your productivity, distractions can easily interrupt the tempo of your work. In order to avoid this issue, it is essential to manage your time well and separate “home” time from “work” time.
Fully remote (40 percent) and hybrid work (38 percent) are associated with an increased likelihood of anxiety and depression symptoms compared to in-person work (35 percent), according to an analysis by the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), an Oakland, Calif. -based nonprofit research organization.
For fully remote workers, the happiness rating jumped to 7 out of 10. In a global 2022 survey of 28,000 workers, Cisco found that an overwhelming 79 percent of employees felt remote work had improved the all-important work-life balance. More than 80 percent said the ability to work from anywhere made them happier.
This is a psychological principle known as thought suppression. Thought suppression worsens anxiety when we are in our homes in isolation. The longer the period of isolation, the more likely it becomes for individuals to show signs of anxiety.
Increased temperatures cause higher cortisol levels and palpitations, nausea, and fatigue. These symptoms can feel similar to a panic attack, which can make us more anxious when we notice them. Humidity can also cause symptoms of dizziness and dehydration.
Working from home is one form of flexibility in working arrangements that may assist workers to juggle work and non- work commitments. However, it may also provide a pathway for greater intrusion of work into family life and for added work-related stress.