NEW YORK — Working from home is supposed to be easier than a daily commute to the office, but a new survey of 2,000 remote-working Americans is challenging that narrative. In all, 65% of respondents report working longer remote hours these days then they ever did while sitting in a workspace. Similarly, 56% are feeling more stressed than ever before due to all the demands that come along with remote work.
For all of the annoyances that come along with commuting to work each day, a physical work location firmly establishes a barrier between work and play. When working from home, however, that line tends to blur. Perhaps that’s why nearly 70% of respondents are struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
But, why exactly is working from home leading to a surge in stress? Many respondents (62%) say that their employer is “pressuring” them to work harder and do more – just because they are now working from home. Moreover, 67% feel extra pressure to be available at all hours of the day.
On average, Americans are putting in extra time at home on three occasions each week, amounting to six additional hours of work every week.
Early to rise, late to the sack
The research, commissioned by CBDistillery, also asked participants about the latest they’ve clocked out of work while working remotely. The average respondent’s answer to that question was 7:17 PM, but 26% admit they’ve worked until 10 P.M. A few have kept busy until two o’clock in the morning.
You may be wondering why so many people are putting themselves through such rigorous working hours. Well, 59% believe that if they don’t work long hours and put in that “extra effort,” their job security will be in jeopardy. The average respondent worries about job security three times per week.
The majority of Americans (63%) also feel like their employer is now “discouraging” vacation time ever since everyone started working from home.
Remote work not as stress-free as thought
So, it’s clear that working from home is adding to many Americans’ worries. When asked how they deal with all that stress at the end of a long day, the top answer among respondents was watching TV (54%). After that, meditation came in second (42%), followed by reading a book (41%), having sex (36%), jogging (32%), and cooking (32%). Other popular responses include taking a bath (29%), playing board games (29%), yoga (27%), CBD products (26%), essential oils (25%), baking (22%), and arts and crafts (20%).
Close to one in five (19%) have tried CBD products for the first time during the pandemic.
Finally, 77% of respondents wish their employer offered more resources and guidance on how to deal with pandemic-related and or remote work-related stress.
The survey was conducted by OnePoll.