Track: Risk Assessment and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

Abstract

A hybrid work environment enables employees to have a combination of working from home and the office. The intention of this paper is to investigate and provide a comparison between hybrid work and in-office work environments. As researchers indicate, WFH has a positive impact on employee productivity and well-being. In order to provide a deep understanding, an empirical survey was conducted on 95 United Emirates workers. The key findings of this survey illustrate that WFH has both positive and negative impacts on workers. The participants record positive experiences with WFH, including flexibility, increased efficiency, improved work-life balance, and better focus. However, the study revealed that some participants recorded various challenges, such as lack of social interaction, increased output expectations, and long working hours, which were obstructions to their participation in WFH. The findings from this research aid in understanding the benefits and challenges of WFH and inform organizations on the best approach to follow when instituting a hybrid work environment within their workforce.