Working From Home Doesn’t Negatively Affect Productivity

Working from home is the new normal for many people, but are we just as good at getting our jobs done when we’re not in the office? According to Texas A&M University and a new study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, our productivity doesn’t take a hit when working remotely.

Researchers worked with a Fortune 500 company in Houston to analyze performance data of employees who were working from home for an extended time following Hurricane Harvey. The company had to close its offices because of flooding, forcing staff to work remotely for seven months. And although total computer use declined during the hurricane, employees’ work behaviors during those seven months returned to pre-hurricane levels, suggesting remote work doesn’t negatively affect workplace productivity.

The team of researchers believes this information can help promote healthy behaviors for employees working remotely due to the pandemic. “Almost all of the study’s employees were right back up to the same output level as they were doing before Hurricane Harvey,” explains study author Mark Benden. “This is a huge message right now for employers because we're having national debates about whether or not employees should be able to work remotely or in a hybrid schedule.”

Source: Texas A&M University