Workers say they like remote work. Research shows it hurts their mental health.

Key Points:

• New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York highlights that while remote work boosts productivity and job satisfaction, it significantly increases social isolation and mental health issues among employees.
• Remote work rose from 7% of U.S. workers in 2019 to 28% in 2023, leading to a 58% increase in hours spent alone compared to in-office workers, with many remote employees experiencing entire days without human contact.
• The study found that remote workers, especially those living alone, did not compensate for isolation by socializing more outside work, resulting in greater overall loneliness and worsening mental well-being.
• Remote workers showed higher usage of mental health services and prescription psychiatric medications, indicating a rise in mental distress linked to increased isolation from remote work.
• Despite workers’ preference for remote work and flexibility, the research suggests they may not fully recognize the long-term mental health costs associated with extended remote work arrangements.