During the pandemic, millions of Dutch workers abruptly shifted to working from home. Even after the measure ended, hybrid work remained widespread. This project investigates acceptance and compliance with the working from home measures and examines how working from home affects working conditions, physical (in)activity, and musculoskeletal health.
The COVID-19 working-from-home measure forced half of the Dutch workforce to change their work routines almost overnight. Even after the measures ended in March 2023, around five million workers continued hybrid working. However, studies on the long-term effects of working from home are lacking.
This project investigates four themes:
- Acceptance and compliance with the working from home measures over time, including individual and contextual determinants.
- Effects of working from home on working conditions, physical (in)activity, and musculoskeletal health. · Identification of risk groups, such as young workers, women, or workers with chronic conditions.
- Translation of scientific insights into practical guidance for policymakers, employers, and employees.
The research uses three major Dutch longitudinal datasets—the NWCS-COVID-19 cohort, the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort, and the Corona Behavioural Unit Trend Research—supplemented with focus groups and stakeholder consultations. These datasets complement each other regarding the measurement of acceptance and compliance, working conditions and health status. The project ultimately delivers evidence-based recommendations for future pandemic preparedness and for supporting healthy hybrid working practices in the current labour market.