A new study reveals that hybrid workers are upping their exercise, getting improved sleep and eating better, too
One of the main benefits pushed by hybrid workers and advocates comes in terms of wellness: let an employee work from home and they’ll arrive at a better work-life balance, ultimately leaving them healthier.
Well, turns out some new research is backing that up: remote workers are exercising more, sleeping better and eating healthier.
IWG Global surveyed 2,000 Canadian workers on their health habits, and it showed some impressive results in favour of hybrid work: more than 70 per cent cook and eat healthier meals; the extra sleep adds up to about 73 hours per year; one in four have decreased their alcohol consumption; and each week there’s about 40 more minutes of exercise on average.
“The most positive impact from remote work came on the sleep side,” one hybrid worker, a principal engineer with Untether AI Inc., told the Globe and Mail. “Waking up to an alarm every day, regardless of how well you slept, is not as effective as letting your body wake up when it’s had enough sleep.”
For IWG Global CEO Scott Dixon, it’s in large part the effect of eliminating the daily commute ― something he says also has major environmental benefits, making it a win-win in terms of health.
“Little has done more over the years to depress, stress and irritate workers than this daily back-and-forth, affecting people in otherwise fantastic careers, in exceptional cities and with great employers,” he wrote in a separate report looking at the emissions reductions from hybrid work. “It distances families, dilutes communities, contaminates the environment and wastes vast amounts of time and money.”
“There is no doubt that hybrid working has facilitated some major health benefits,” added Dr. Sara Kayat. “A balanced diet, physical activity and good quality sleep are the bedrocks of a healthy lifestyle, and this data suggests that each is more widespread due to the extra time afforded by a hybrid working model.”
Content written by Kieran Delamont for Worklife, a partnership between Ahria Consulting and London Inc. To view this content in newsletter form, click here.