Survey finds mixed results when workers asked about remote work

Midvale-based CHG Healthcare, a privately held healthcare staffing company, has found that workers are finding that working from home during the COVID-19 has had a mixed impact on their mental health. CHG surveyed more than 850 U.S. workers, ranging from ages 18-71, about their feelings on returning to work while the coronavirus remains a health threat.

Over a third (35 percent) of respondents said working from home during this time has positively impacted their mental health, while over a quarter (26 percent) indicated a negative impact. Thirty-nine percent reported no change to their mental health. Of those who indicated working remotely negatively impacted their mental health, an overwhelming majority (82 percent) believe returning to the office will improve their mental health.

As employers work on their return-to-office plans, employees are anticipating more opportunities for remote/virtual work (26 percent) and more flexible work schedules (22 percent). More than half (54 percent) of respondents indicated that they are more interested in having a hybrid in-office/work-from-home schedule. Nearly a third (32 percent) have no interest in returning to a physical office, preferring to work from home or virtually. Only 9 percent want to go back to the office full time.

Workers are also expecting companies to put additional health policies in place. Almost four in five employees (79 percent) want their employer to enforce extended time away from the office when an employee falls ill. An additional group of respondents (17 percent) want increased safety measures including masks, spacing between employees and limited social gatherings.

A significant portion of respondents (44 percent) said they prefer their employer require employees to be vaccinated before returning to the office, while 33 percent don’t think the vaccination should be required before returning.