OMAHA, Neb. – Remote work has been incredibly popular, but remote work anxiety has been an unforeseen side-effects, a new study contends.

Since starting en masse in March 2020, remote work has been viewed upon favorably by most employees, Breeze said in the study’s executive summary.

“One of our studies even found workers were willing to slash their pay or PTO in exchange for remote work.”

But remote work anxiety or FOMO (fear of missing out) has become an unforeseen side effect of remote work, especially as some companies implement hybrid models where some employees are in the office and some remain home. The latter have lost the everyday conversations and chemistry-building moments that help foster a healthy working environment.

Worse still, they’re home alone staring at a screen and stewing with their thoughts.

Out of 5,314 respondents, we ended up surveying 1,000 qualified respondents, which meant they were adult American workers who are currently working remotely full-time with the same company since the beginning of the pandemic and continuing to work remotely with that company, even though other co-workers have returned to the office.

Some key findings:

  • 47% have reported remote work anxiety, with 17% opting not to say
  • For those with remote work anxiety, 66% said it has crushed productivity, while 54% have reported “exhaustion, lethargy, or trouble sleeping,” 52% have reported “depression,” and 46% have experienced “panic attacks”
  • As a result of remote work anxiety, 57% have sought out professional and/or medical help
  • 41% said they are getting remote work anxiety because they are working too hard/too many hours since they are worried their employer might think they are slacking off as a remote worker (i.e. imposter syndrome), while 17% believe they are getting passed over for other coworkers that are in the office, and 11% are worried about coworkers talking behind their backs
  • 43% with remote work anxiety plan on returning to the office because of it, while 23% are not due to COVID-19, and 12% would have to physically move where they live

To read the rest of the study, click on https://www.meetbreeze.com/blog/remote-work-anxiety-employees-survey/