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When the pandemic forced many employees to work from home it wasn’t all bad.

A recent report revealed working from home meant better mental and physical health for many employees working remotely.

Specifically, 36.7 per cent say their mental health has been positively impacted since working from home, according to Prodoscore, an employee visibility and productivity intelligence software provider.

Overall, 82.3 per cent of the 31.5 per cent of employees working from home are happier working remotely versus having to work in the office.

Among some of the top reasons for the positive feelings? Workers: were able to take care of household chores when necessary (51.2%), didn’t have to order out for lunch everyday (35.4%), can shower in the middle of the day (30.3%), and can listen to podcasts while working (22.55%).

Alleviate stress

Remote workers are also able to alleviate stress in a variety of ways including: listening to music (48.1%), going for a walk (39.7%), scrolling through social media (34.5%), and mid-day workouts (17.5%).

The survey of more than 1,000 adults working full time conducted in the fall of 2021 also found nearly one in five reported they don’t have stress while working from home.

But 35 per cent are reporting they are burned out, according to a study by Mental Health Research Canada in December 2021.

It measured a wide range of factors relating to how employees are feeling at work. The study, commissioned by, Workplace Strategies for Mental Health compliments of Canada Life, found:

Higher than average

Workers in the following industries are reporting levels of burnout higher than the national average, according to the Canada Life report:

• Health and patient care (53 per cent)
• Transportation (40 per cent)
• Finance, legal and insurance (39 per cent)
• Education and childcare (38 per cent).

This is a “cause for concern,” says Mary Ann Baynton, director of collaboration and strategy at Workplace Strategies for Mental Health at Canada Life. “It’s not surprising though – considering we’re once again faced with extreme uncertainty as the pandemic roller coaster continues. “For so many of us, anxiety and exhausting are at an all-time high.”

What’s the best advice for people working from home? Balance, say experts. You can find tips on work-life balance here.

If you are temporarily working from home, it’s not mandatory to let your insurer know. Generally speaking, home insurance will cover your personal belongings including some electronics and personal liability, should you be sued for an injury sustained on your property.

That being said, if the plan is for you continue to work remotely in the future, your home policy may not be adequate to cover expensive company equipment you might use for work. In that case, it doesn’t hurt to talk to your broker to see if extra coverage is necessary.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), a home insurance policy offers a small coverage limit for books, tools, and instruments necessary for a business, profession or occupation. If you operate a small business from your home on a more permanent basis, however, you should inform your broker and obtain additional coverage.