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The Consequences of Working from home on Well-Being: Evidence from the French Workforce

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  • 白, 祁明

Abstract

The global transition to working from home, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has fundamentally transformed traditional work patterns. In France, where work-life balance is culturally emphasized, this change presents unique challenges This study analyzes data from 66,839 French workers (2010-2015) to explore the impact of remote work on employee well-being, with a particular focus on anxiety levels and work-family balance.Contrary to conventional wisdom, working from home itself does not significantly affect anxiety levels. Instead, well-being is primarily influenced by factors such as age, gender, education level, and family size. Specifically, age exhibits a U-shaped relationship with anxiety, men report lower anxiety levels, higher education is negatively correlated with anxiety, and larger family size is positively correlated with well-being.The impact varies significantly across demographic groups, especially for employees with young children and self-employed individuals. This study reveals nuanced effects of remote work and highlights the moderating role of demographic and occupational factors, contributing to the literature on working from home.It also underscores the importance of France's unique cultural context in shaping working from home experiences. These findings indicate that organizations should implement customized support systems and develop targeted mental health resources, moving away from generic policies to effectively address the diverse needs of employees.

Suggested Citation

  • 白, 祁明, 2025. "The Consequences of Working from home on Well-Being: Evidence from the French Workforce," MPRA Paper 123194, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:123194
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Donna W. McCloskey & Magid Igbaria, 2003. "Does "Out of Sight" Mean "Out of Mind"? An Empirical Investigation of the Career Advancement Prospects of Telecommuters," Information Resources Management Journal (IRMJ), IGI Global Scientific Publishing, vol. 16(2), pages 19-34, April.
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    4. Angel Belzunegui-Eraso & Amaya Erro-Garcés, 2020. "Teleworking in the Context of the Covid-19 Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
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    JEL classification:

    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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