People who were more satisfied with their home workspace felt more productive
In a survey of 1,002 Dutch workers, those satisfied with their chair, equipment, and Wi-Fi also said they felt more productive.
The key idea
Among people working from home, feeling comfortable in the workspace went together with experiencing work more positively.
The study, in plain language
Working from home was not the same experience for everyone. People more satisfied with their desk, chair, equipment, or connection tended to rate their productivity more highly. The environment also mattered, particularly noise and comfort.
Compared with the in-person office, people preferred some aspects of their home environment, but preferred the office furniture and equipment. Longer ventilation was associated with satisfaction with the workspace and, through it, with work outcomes. The survey shows that the home workspace is part of the work experience, but it cannot establish what causes what.
What they found
- Greater satisfaction with the desk, chair, equipment, and Wi-Fi was associated with greater perceived productivity.
- People preferred the home environment, and the office furniture and equipment.
- Longer ventilation was associated with better work outcomes indirectly, through workspace satisfaction.
How they studied it
Researchers surveyed 1,002 Dutch office workers who were working from home in November 2020. They compared ratings of the environment, equipment, productivity, and exhaustion to examine associations, without intervening.
What the study cannot show
- The survey was cross-sectional and used self-reports. It does not establish that changing the workspace increases productivity or prevents exhaustion.
Something to think about
If you want to understand why two people experience remote work differently, bring noise, the chair, or the connection into the conversation. This is a reflection on working conditions, not a productivity formula.
The original study
Does working from home work? That depends on the home
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.
