There is good news for those who like to work from home. A research team from the University of Texas A&M School of Public Health conducted a new study that found that the resilience of employees and the company could be improved through telecommuting, according to a statement issued by the institution on Friday.
Assess employee productivity during Hurricane Harvey
This is especially true during natural disasters and other events that lead to workplace displacement. In particular, the study evaluates employees’ technology data before, during and after Hurricane Harvey.
What the researchers found was that overall computer use declined during the hurricane, but quickly returned to pre-hurricane levels seven months after the event.
“In the future, there will be a higher percentage of the workforce involved in some kind of office-style technology,” said Benden, director of the school’s ergonomics center.
“Almost all research staff returned to the same level of production as before Hurricane Harvey. This is a huge message at the moment for employers, because we are leading a national debate on whether employees should be able to work remotely or on a hybrid schedule.
Investigation of workplace injuries
The study went beyond the assessment of productivity to the study of the causes of workplace injuries. They found it important for employees to take regular breaks so as not to be injured during work.
“Research says that if you work a certain way at a certain pace for a certain duration, you’re more likely to get hurt from that work,” Benden said. “But if you work a little less or a little less often or break the duration or have some other traits – such as posture – then you are less likely to develop a problem while doing your job in the office.
Bendon went so far as to suggest that employers encourage employees to take regular breaks and recharge before finishing their work. That, he said, would lead to a healthier and more resourceful workforce.
“People who took the recommended breaks were more productive overall. They have done more, “he said. “We have to teach this to people, we have to teach people about it, and then we have to help people do it.”
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