National Work-From Home (WFH) Survey
National Work-From Home (WFH) Survey
Generated nationwide evidence on physical and mental health impacts of remote work to inform sustainable organizational strategies for hybrid/remote workplaces.
What did this Project Set Out to Do?
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID‑19 a global pandemic, triggering rapid and widespread changes to how Canadians live and work. One of the most significant shifts was the sudden move to working from home (WFH) as a public health measure to reduce virus transmission. At its peak, more than 5.4 million Canadians were working from home, often with little preparation or choice.
This project set out to understand how Canadians were experiencing this transition and how large‑scale, prolonged WFH arrangements were affecting their mental health, physical wellbeing, and work‑life boundaries. Led by the Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP), in collaboration with La Trobe University (Australia), the National Work‑From‑Home Survey aimed to capture a national snapshot of Canadians’ health and wellbeing during a critical phase of the pandemic.
Rather than focusing solely on productivity or organizational outcomes, the project centered on worker experience, with particular attention to stress, mental health, physical discomfort, and work‑life conflict associated with WFH conditions during an unprecedented public health crisis.
How was the Research Done?
This project used a national, cross‑sectional survey to capture the lived experiences of Canadians working from home during the second wave of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
1. National Online Survey
Canadians from across the country were surveyed between October 27 and December 21, 2020, a period marked by rising infection rates and renewed public health restrictions. During this time, Canada experienced an average of approximately 5,270 new COVID‑19 cases per day.
2. Focus on Health and Work‑Life Experience
Survey questions focused on:
- Mental health and stress
- Physical health and discomfort
- Work‑life conflict associated with WFH arrangements
At the time of completion, over 90% of respondents reported working full‑time hours from home, providing insight into sustained, rather than temporary, WFH conditions.
3. Descriptive Data Analysis
The study provided a descriptive summary of the data. Results were organized to first provide a demographic overview of respondents, followed by sections addressing:
- Stress and mental health outcomes
- Physical health experiences
- Work‑life conflict related to WFH
To enhance accessibility and clarity, the report incorporates infographics that visually represent key findings and patterns within the data.
What did the Project Discover?
Early findings from the survey indicate that large‑scale WFH arrangements are closely tied to both mental and physical health outcomes for Canadian workers. Respondents reported notable experiences of stress and mental health challenges alongside physical discomfort associated with extended home‑based work setups.
The results also highlighted significant work‑life conflict, reflecting blurred boundaries between work and personal life during pandemic‑related WFH conditions. These outcomes suggest that while WFH enabled continuity of work during public health restrictions, it also introduced new and compounded health and wellbeing challenges for many workers.
Key Applications
The findings from the National Work‑From‑Home Survey support several practical applications, including:
- Informing organizational policies related to remote and hybrid work
- Supporting employers in understanding health and wellbeing risks associated with prolonged WFH
- Guiding the development of resources, training, and supports to mitigate stress, physical discomfort, and work‑life conflict
- Contributing evidence to broader discussions on the future of work and worker health beyond the pandemic
Why Does This Matter?
As WFH arrangements become a lasting feature of the Canadian labour landscape, understanding their health implications is critical. This project provides timely, worker‑centered evidence on how rapid and sustained shifts in work location affect mental health, physical wellbeing, and daily functioning.
For employers, policymakers, and occupational health professionals, these findings underscore the importance of proactively addressing ergonomic conditions, psychological health, and work‑life boundaries in remote work settings. For workers, the research validates lived experiences during the pandemic and highlights the need for WFH arrangements that support long‑term health, safety, and sustainability, not just continuity of work during a crisis.
