Shaping Workspaces, Shaping Lives: Health Implications of Working From Home for Employees With Tertiary Education in Switzerland

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effect of transitioning to working from home (WFH) on health for employees with a tertiary degree. Methods: Data were drawn from the COVID-19 Social Monitor, a large, high-frequency longitudinal online panel of the Swiss 18-79-year-old resident population (N=3,381). We estimated individual-fixed-effects models to examine the effect of transitioning to WFH on 13 binary health outcomes related to general health, mental health, physical health, health behaviour and social trust. Results: Even post-COVID-19 WFH measures, the proportion of tertiary-educated employees working from home remained high relative to pre-pandemic levels. Individual fixed-effects estimates suggest no evidence of an effect of transitioning to WFH on any of the health outcomes. Conclusion: The upward trend in WFH underscores the importance of health-impact research in this context. The absence of adverse health effects is significant for employers and policymakers aiming to provide flexible work arrangements. Our study provides a benchmark for future research by encompassing a comprehensive range of health outcomes and utilizing a longitudinal panel structure that captures the transition from mandatory to optional WFH arrangements.