'Adapting ergonomics and human factors in remote work for employee well-being: A conceptual study

Purpose: The shift from the traditional face-to-face to remote working requires that both employers and employees to adapt their environments to ensure alignment with the demands of remote work. This includes leveraging digital technologies, infrastructure, tools, systems, and content to enhance employees’ effectiveness and well-being. Given permanence of remote and hybrid work following the widespread adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to identify ergonomic factors that support employee well-being and productivity in these settings. While existing studies have identified ergonomic factors in various contexts few have specifically on remote work. Furthermore, the ergonomic elements affecting the well-being of remote employees remain underexplored, and theoretical frameworks in this area are scarce. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the ergonomic factors that need adapting to ensure employee well-being and effectiveness when working remotely and to develop a conceptual framework for future studies.Methodology: This study adopted a qualitative approach. Data was sourced from electronic databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. From a systematic literature search, 36 relevant articles were analysed using content analysis techniques.Results: The study identified cognitive, physical, and organizational ergonomic factors that require adaptation in remote work environments to enhance employee performance and well-being. Findings highlight the critical role of ergonomic adjustments in home office setups, including their impact on safety, comfort, ease of use, and productivity. These factors contribute significantly to workforce well-being and overall satisfaction. Additionally, the study revealed a lack of theory-driven approaches in existing research on ergonomics and remote work. A conceptual framework was developed, proposing hypothesized relationships between key constructs for empirical testing and validation.Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the adoption of ergonomically sound remote working environments for employees. It provides recommendations for organizations seeking to enhance their remote work policies with an emphasis on ergonomics to promote a healthier and more productive remote workforce.Implications: The study highlights the need for future research to validate the proposed conceptual framework across diverse contexts and settings. Such validation will enhance the generalizability of findings on ergonomics and remote work, further advancing knowledge in this domain.Keywords: Remote working, ergonomics, employee wellbeing, technology adaption, home office design, occupational health.