Increased Working From Home in Vocational Counseling Psychologists During COVID-19: Associated Change in Productivity and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vocational counselors in Switzerland more frequently worked from home (WFH) and less frequently worked on-site. The aim of this study was to assess how WFH corresponds with indicators of job performance and occupational wellbeing. More specifically, the current questionnaire study analyzed the increase in WFH, self-reported productivity, distractibility in WFH, current job satisfaction, work-life balance in WFH, and feeling of loneliness. Findings showed that the increase in WFH in vocational counseling psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in productivity and job satisfaction and with lower distractibility in WFH compared to work on-site. However, more frequent WFH was not significantly associated with improved work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vocational counselors who shared the office on-site with many colleagues experienced higher feeling of loneliness during WFH. Vocational counselors regarded the condition of WFH as productive and satisfying while work-life balance did not improve. The discussion sheds light on the potential WFH-related increase of boundary management demands.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working and Burnout in the Context of the Job Demands–Resources Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Recent research during the COVID-19 outbreak has shown that job crafting can be useful in dealing with the negative effects of work overload, especially when working from home [130]. Finally, since the worktime boundary between work and private life could gradually disappear when working from home [131], interventions should be aimed at helping workers to preserve a clear physical or psychological distinction (i.e., segmentation) between work and non-work domains (e.g., walking around the block as an alternative commuting strategy when working from home) [132].…”

Working From Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Although many studies have investigated the impact of WFH on work productivity during COVID-19, the results varied by population, setting, occupation, and time of measurement 8–18 . Only a few studies have measured the impact of WFH on absenteeism and presenteeism due to health problems during the pandemic 28,29 .…”

“…Decreased work productivity was also observed among a working population in Austria, 14 workers in manufacturing firms in Japan, 12 and a representative sample of employees and employers in Japan 18 . On the other hand, increased work productivity was observed among certain professions who worked from home only part time in the United States, 11 vocational counseling psychologists in Switzerland, 13 inpatient and infusion pharmacists at a US comprehensive cancer center, 15 pediatric neuroradiologists in a US quaternary pediatric academic hospital, 16 and public health workers from a large local health district in Australia 17 …”

“…Studies have been conducted to measure the impact of WFH on work productivity among working populations during the pandemic. These results were mixed depending on the setting, population, occupation, and time of the survey 8–18 . Smite et al 8 reviewed 13 surveys conducted in different countries to measure the changes in perceived productivity among the software engineers during the pandemic; in four surveys, most respondents reported decreased productivity; in six surveys, most respondents reported no changes; and in three surveys, most respondents reported increased productivity.…”

“…These results were mixed depending on the setting, population, occupation, and time of the survey. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Smite et al 8 reviewed 13 surveys conducted in different countries to measure the changes in perceived productivity among the software engineers during the pandemic; in four surveys, most respondents reported decreased productivity; in six surveys, most respondents reported no changes; and in three surveys, most respondents reported increased productivity. Based on the Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics Canada, 90% of employees who usually worked outside the home before the pandemic but worked most of their hours at home during February 14 to 20, 2021, reported being at least as productive as they were in their usual workplace (58% the same and 32% more productive).…”