Alyssa McGonagle on benefits of work-from-home arrangements
Alyssa McGonagle, associate professor of psychology and organizational science, was interviewed by Augusta Free Press for “Virginia at bottom of list of states identified as conducive for employees to work from home.”
Work from home is attractive to employees for a variety of reasons in the United States, including avoiding the stress and expense of long commutes, avoiding office politics and microaggressions, assisting with focus and productivity by avoiding noisy, distracting open office environments, and simply personal preference.
McGonagle’s research shows that work-from-home arrangements are particularly important for workers with chronic health conditions, who report improved abilities to manage work and health challenges when working from home. Being able to work from home also allows easy access to fresh foods to meet dietary restrictions, bathrooms if symptoms necessitate close access, and the ability to optimally set up one’s workstation to meet the health-related needs of employees.
If employers want to retain talent, McGonagle emphasized that work from home will continue to be popular and an essential option. “Offering the option to work from home gives an employer a competitive advantage in today’s labor market, which still favors job applicants,” McGonagle said.