Trajectories of work productivity loss: working from home and insights during COVID-19

Project Summary

People with health problems may attend at work with reduced productivity (presenteeism), take sick leaves, reduce routine work hours or completely stop working. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to working from home (WFH) have raised questions about their impact on work productivity. This study includes four specific objectives: 1) to examine how employment status changes over time among middle-aged or older workers and what factors are associated with the changes; 2) to measure how current presenteeism relates to future employment status within the context of COVID-19; 3) to measure how presenteeism changes over time among those who remain employed and examine the relationship between WFH during COVID-19 and this change; 4) to examine sex and gender differences. This study will inform workplace and government supports aimed at maintaining work productivity, including whether WFH is a viable arrangement.