From a health standpoint, the shift to remote work in the pandemic era would appear to have little downside. Without open-plan offices and rush-hour crowds to contend with, we are more in control of our environment and our health, right?
Think again, say experts. In the office, companies hire cleaners to clean floors and desks and all other work surfaces—often at the end of every day. But at home, many of us have developed habits that are, at best, not the healthiest, and at worst simply gross. We make phone calls from the bathroom. We let clutter pile up on our desks. We work from bed while balancing our coffee mug and muffin.
To be sure, some of these habits are fairly benign—but not all. Dust mites and other allergens can accumulate in a messy home, triggering coughs and a runny nose. Contaminated surfaces can transmit pathogens. Working from bed can cause sleep disruptions, as well as aches and pains and other woes, according to a recent study.
“The home office has a lot more bacteria than work offices do,” says Charles Gerba, a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, whose investigations of aircraft cabins and other shared spaces have earned him the sobriquet “Dr. Germ.” At home, he notes, you may have family members sharing spaces, and consuming more food and drinks while they work. “Even in my own home, our computer area is littered with sticky notes, mail, Coke cans and snacks,” he says.
Certain habits also can act like superspreaders of microbes. Studies suggest cellphones are one of the worst offenders. And when you consider where your gizmo goes in a typical day, that’s no surprise: A survey by phone carrier Verizon Communications Inc. found that 90% of users admit to carrying their smartphones into the bathroom. Even in a meticulously clean bathroom, if you’re picking up and putting down your phone before washing your hands, nasty bugs can attach to the screen and cover.
