Remote work grew a lot in the United States after the pandemic began. In 2019, people worked from home on 7 out of every 100 workdays. By 2023, that number was 28 out of 100.
A new study looked at many workers in the United States. It found that people in jobs they can do at home felt more social isolation and more mental distress than people in jobs they must do in person. The hardest time was for people who lived alone.
Some workers, such as working mothers and people with disabilities, may like remote work. But the study found that, overall, distress was higher, not lower.
Experts say the answer is not simply to force everyone back to the office. They say work should be designed better. They also say workers need both quiet time and time with other people.
