Is there a human consequence to WFH?

Apple has done great business during the pandemic with enterprise use of Macs up 23% and record iPhone sales. But is there a human cost to working from home? It looks possible.

Crisis in the work/life gap

To get some sense of the impact of remote working, I spoke with TRUCE Software, who shared recent data the company has published that provides a heat map to show us where we are.

The top-down claim? Remote working our way through the pandemic means we’re more hooked to our mobile devices than ever, with many putting in longer hours and a good number of people complaining about the erosion of work life balance.

Among other indicators, the research shows:

• 62% of 1,500 U.S. workers are finding that their mobile phones or tablets play a key role in helping them be productive.
• More than a third are using mobile devices more often at work than pre-pandemic.
• 56% also think it is their right to use personal devices at work.

But what’s really critical is that 46% of the people surveyed claimed to be working more than they were a year ago; it’s quite understandable why 56% of workers think it is also their right to use their own mobile devices at work.

The statistic I’m most alarmed about is that 23% of workers wish they could find a better balance between their jobs and their domestic life. While the pandemic rages on, most workers must also learn to manage extreme personal stress: lack of physical contact, absence of friends and family, and many who now mourn loved ones and face economic or employment fragility. This is creating a well of stress for many, leading to burnout as people simply run out of energy.