How Did the UK Workforce Adapt to Working from Home?

The effects of the Covid-19 lockdown have had a tangible effect on the health of a workforce that was told to work from home.

With new restrictions set to kick in over the winter period, and many companies extending their working from home policy into 2021, several studies from earlier in the year highlighted the possible consequences of a poor workstation set-up at home.

Studies found 57% of those questioned had experienced more pains in their neck, 56% in their shoulders and 55% in their back.

The reasons for these ailments range from posture and position, with few having access to a work desk and chair at home, to equipment available as people work on small laptop screens when previously they may have had double screens in the office environment.

Other trends include the bizarre places people decided to work; a quarter admitted to logging on in bed, with 40% choosing the sofa as their base. A total of 15% worked in their pyjamas, with 6% even confessing to working on the toilet!

In a different survey, 10% said they had done work in the bath.

Working from home has risen dramatically as a result of the pandemic, up from just over 5% in January/February to 36.5% in June.

A recent report found 34% of businesses questioned were considering working from home becoming their permanent business model.

Some companies have already committed to an extended spell of working from home, including Google, Natwest and Deutsche Bank.

A number of major organisations have gone even further, with Twitter offering their staff the chance to work from home permanently should they wish to do so.