The pandemic forced many of us into home offices and turned working life upside down. After the need for infection control was over, several workplaces chose to allow employees to continue working from home. Some can now work for large parts of the week in a home office. This can be problematic for those who are struggling. – For a good part, a lot of use of home offices is a challenge. So says Steinar Krokstad, psychiatrist and professor of social medicine at Hunt and NTNU. The professor learns that patients who spend a lot of time in their home office can have problems with mental disorders and alcohol abuse worsen. His experience is backed up by a new survey carried out by the Occupational Health Service’s industry association. More physical and psychological ailments The survey was carried out by Norstat on behalf of the industry association. 1264 people have answered a number of different questions related to home offices. The results are discussed in an article in Midtnorskdebatt. It shows that people who can work from home every day report having more physical and psychological problems than those who rarely work from home. – The findings were clearer than I had thought, says Pål Lillebø, chairman of the Occupational Health Services industry association. Isolated and lonely There are twice as many who report having psychological problems among those who can have a home office all week than those who rarely work from home. They also report that they feel more tired and lonely than their colleagues who rarely have a home office. – Sitting at home a lot and not meeting people can mean that you feel isolated and lonely and don’t get the important social network to play on, says Professor Krokstad. He adds that the findings in the survey may also be due to the fact that those with psychological challenges prefer to stay at home. – Some people find it easy to be at home, but have problems with it because they would benefit from meeting up somewhere and meeting other people, getting social support and help, says Krokstad. Those who can work from home all week also report more physical ailments, both in the back, shoulders and muscles. There are almost twice as many of these who report having pain in their arms and hands than those who are in the office most days of the working week. Report increased drinking The survey also shows that several of those who can have a home office all week have increased their alcohol consumption. 13 percent have started drinking more, compared to 1 percent of those who rarely have a home office. – We know of several cases of people who have been drinking in Teams meetings during the day. If you have problems with gambling or alcoholism and you sit alone, then it can facilitate increased problems, says Lillebø in the Business Health Services industry association. Pål Lillebø is chairman of the Occupational Health Service’s industry association. The association is surprised by the findings in the survey, which show that those who frequently use a home office report having more physical and psychological problems than those who work from home less often. Photo: Katarina Junke Professor and psychiatrist Steinar Krokstad also sees a tendency for patients who have a lot of home office to worsen their drinking problems. – Then it is primarily about people who drink quite often and think it is perfectly fine to do so without being observed by others. When they work from home, the risk of the problem becoming greater is present, says Krokstad. Krokstad explains this by saying that for many, driving to work and meeting colleagues is also what prevents them from drinking alcohol. – There can definitely be some dangers with a lot of home office use when it comes to alcohol problems, he says. The findings from the survey The survey was carried out by Norstat on behalf of the occupational health service’s industry association 1264 people answered the survey 7% of those who answered can have a home office every day, 20% can have it 1-2 days a week and 22% can never have a home office 23 % of those who responded to the survey have had home office equipment adapted (chair, desk, screen, keyboard) 14% of those who can have a home office 5 days a week state that they have problems in their arms and hands. 7% of those who can have a home office 1-2 times a week have such problems, 23% of those who can have a home office 5 days a week feel lonely. 1% of those who have 1-3 days in months state the same. 11% of those who can have a home office 5 days a week state that they have “had other problems related to mental health” (other problems than fatigue and loneliness). 5% of those who have 1-3 days in months state the same. At the same time, it is those who can have a home office 3-4 days a week who state the most mental health problems, with 13% stating that they have this. 13% of those who can have a home office five days a week have increased their alcohol consumption. 1% of those who have 1-3 days a month at home have increased their drinking. More advantages of a home office Not everyone is aware of the pain of sitting in a home office. Andreas Berg (33) works with financial crime at Sparebank 1 SMN. At his workplace, the main rule is that employees show up at the office. At the same time, it is possible to have a home office if you need this, says Berg. He sees great advantages in being able to have a home office, especially children who have to be accompanied to nursery school and school. – The logistics in everyday life will be easier, he says. Usually he is in the home office two out of five days, but Berg has just started a new position and is therefore in the office during the training period. Although a home office helps with time constraints as a parent of small children, Berg believes that sitting at home also has its downsides: – It gives me much more sociality to be physically present with colleagues, you become more isolated at home, he says. Andreas Berg normally works from his home office three days out of five. He likes the flexibility it provides in a busy everyday life. Photo: Privat Employees with alcohol problems should meet at work Both the psychiatrist and the occupational health service believe it is very important that the employer has a conscious relationship with the use of home offices by employees. – For some, a home office can provide a better life, for others it can be a big problem, says psychiatrist and professor Krokstad. The occupational health service recommends that employees who have alcohol problems meet at the workplace. The psychiatrist thinks the same. – If the employer suspects an employee has an alcohol problem, it is recommended that they require attendance to protect the employee, says Krokstad.
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People with a lot of home office have poorer mental and physical health – news Trøndelag
