A brand new nationwide examine from John Foy & Associates reveals a pointy rise in remote-work accidents throughout the US, exposing a significant workplace-safety blind spot as extra Individuals than ever perform their jobs from dwelling. As of March 2025, 22.8% of the U.S. workforce—36.1 million folks—are actually hybrid or totally distant, in comparison with simply 6% earlier than 2020. With such a dramatic shift, the road between a office damage and a family accident has turn out to be extra blurred than ever.
Based on the report, distant employee damage claims have elevated between 24% and 54%, a development pushed closely by musculoskeletal pressure and stress-related circumstances. The Nationwide Council on Compensation Insurance coverage (NCCI) finds that almost all of at-home claims contain neck stiffness, lower-back ache, shoulder pressure, and repetitive-motion accidents, issues stemming from non-ergonomic dwelling setups and extended sitting.
Musculoskeletal Ache Is Changing into a Defining Symptom of Distant Work
The examine confirms that 61% of distant workers report worsening musculoskeletal discomfort, with 41% saying they’ve developed new ache of their again, shoulders, or wrists since transitioning to at-home work. Makeshift workplace setups, working at kitchen tables, on sofas, or hunched over laptops, are main contributors.
Repetitive-strain circumstances comparable to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and power wrist ache are more and more widespread. Distant workers additionally report excessive charges of eye pressure and pc imaginative and prescient syndrome, a consequence of spending full workdays in entrance of screens with little motion.
Even on a regular basis family hazards, comparable to unfastened cables, cluttered areas, or slippery flooring, have led to on-the-clock slips, journeys, and falls, complicating staff’ compensation claims and protection tips.
Psychological Well being Prices of Distant Work Are Rising Too
Past bodily damage, the report highlights a critical mental-health draw back to totally distant employment. Distant staff report:
- 45% nervousness charges (vs. 38–39% in hybrid/in-office employees)
- 40% melancholy charges (greater than in-office staff at 35%)
- Solely 36% of full-time distant staff say they’re thriving
Isolation is a significant perpetrator. The survey reveals that 66% of distant staff really feel much less socially linked, 57% report elevated loneliness, and 25% say their social abilities have declined since working at dwelling.
This mix of bodily and psychological pressure reveals that distant work, whereas versatile and handy, presents dangers that conventional workplaces had been as soon as higher outfitted to handle.
Industries With the Most Distant Employees
Distant work is extremely concentrated in knowledge-based sectors. The industries with the very best proportion of totally distant staff are:
- Finance & insurance coverage – 30% totally distant, 38% hybrid
- Skilled & enterprise providers – 23% totally distant
- Utilities – 23%
- Data/tech – 22% totally distant, practically half hybrid
- Arts, leisure & recreation – 19%
- Healthcare & social help – 18%
- Authorities – 17%
Against this, hands-on fields comparable to actual property, schooling, development, and hospitality function considerably decrease remote-work adoption.
The place Distant Work Is Most Widespread within the U.S.
The District of Columbia leads the nation with 56.5% of staff staying dwelling—a mirrored image of federal and white-collar job concentrations. Colorado (31.7%), Massachusetts (29.4%), Maryland (27.6%), Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, Arizona, and California additionally rank among the many most remote-friendly.
States with extra manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, or service-driven economies proceed to rely totally on in-person work.
Distant Work Security Is Now a Coverage Situation, Not a Perk
With damage claims rising, the examine stresses a transparent want for stronger employer tips, clearer staff’ compensation requirements, and common ergonomic greatest practices—comparable to adjustable chairs, eye-level displays, and the well-known 20-20-20 rule to stop eye pressure.
“Each dwelling workplace is now a office,” the examine concludes. “And office security guidelines should evolve accordingly.”
At John Foy, we assist workers perceive their rights after they endure office accidents—whether or not they happen on-site or at dwelling. In case you’ve been harm on the job, our staff can assist you safe the compensation and assist you deserve.
