Teleworking vs office working – how to find the right balance as an employer?

Postdoctoral researcher Eline Moens conducted a survey of Flemish employees on their experiences of hybrid working over time (i.e. alternating between working in the office and teleworking). The results offer some interesting insights (Dutch info).

Fifty-fifty: the perfecte mix

Teleworking has a positive impact on job satisfaction, work-life balance, professional development, and relationships between colleagues.

The reason? Teleworkers face less commuting and benefit from greater flexibility, all while having fewer but more meaningful interactions with supervisors and colleagues.

BUT – the peak hovers at around 50% telecommuting. The benefits are halved with any further teleworking beyond this point.

The benefit of teleworking: boosted efficiency and increased concentration

However, the optimal fifty-fifty ratio does not apply to every aspect of work. There is one significant exception, with both concentration and task efficiency peaking at 70% or more for teleworking.

Those working from home generally experience fewer unforeseen interruptions, whilst other interruptions to workflow can be better mitigated than in the office.

Increased teleworking = (slightly) reduced connection to employer

So, should we (continue to) make full use of teleworking? Not quite. There is a significant ‘but’. With increased teleworking, employees’ connection to their employer can become slightly eroded. This effect is limited, but still.

Office vs home: work environment, exercise, and nutrition

Ergonomic expert Katrien Devel highlights a few further significant insights based on Mensura data from our e-survey screen work of over 23,000 employees.

“Teleworkers are clearly more satisfied with their working environment than office workers (74% versus 64%). We are talking factors such as noise, lighting, and indoor climate. And that makes sense, as it is easier to tailor these aspects to your personal preference at home.”

When it comes to exercise and nutrition, teleworkers score lower (57% vs 52%). “Those working in the office tend to sit less and move more than those working from home. At home, you are more likely to work with greater concentration, usually while sitting down. What’s more, the proximity to the fridge or toilet is also usually greater at home than in the office. While this may seem fairly innocuous, it has been shown that staying sedentary for extended periods increases the risk of discomfort, illness, and even disability.”

Mensura is here to help

• With our e-survey screen work, you can carry out a risk assessment via an online questionnaire – also suitable for teleworkers. You will receive a clear report, along with recommended steps and advice.

• When (re)designing your office layout, it is best to take ergonomic principles into account from the start. Need help? Our ergonomic experts are here to help.

• How do you ensure the wellbeing of employees working from home or remotely? Our modular training programme covers several aspects of healthy and safe home/teleworking.