As remote work becomes a permanent fixture of American employment, a new national study from John Foy & Associates uncovers the rising dangers hiding behind home-office doors. With 36 million people now working remotely or in hybrid roles, the U.S. workforce has undergone a transformation that outpaced safety guidelines—and injury claims are climbing as a result.

Remote worker injuries have surged 24% to 54%, according to the study, with the majority linked to musculoskeletal strain, prolonged screen time, and psychological stress. Experts warn that without stronger ergonomic support and clearer standards from employers, those numbers will continue climbing through 2025 and beyond.

Musculoskeletal Injuries Dominate Remote-Work Claims

The report reveals that 61% of at-home workers experience worsening physical discomfort, particularly in the:

• Neck
• Shoulders
• Lower back
• Wrists and hands

These injuries stem from poor home equipment, non-ergonomic seating, and extended periods of inactivity. Remote staff often work in spaces never designed for office use—on sofas, beds, or dining chairs—creating chronic strain that would be preventable in a traditional workplace.

Repetitive-motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis have become especially widespread. Meanwhile, screen-heavy roles are contributing to increased complaints of eye strain, headaches, and dizziness, commonly grouped under computer vision syndrome.

Remote Work Is Also Taking a Toll on Mental Health

Beyond physical harm, the research highlights an emotional toll. Among fully remote employees:

• 45% report anxiety
• 40% report depression
• Only 36% consider themselves thriving

Isolation plays a major role. Two-thirds of remote workers feel less socially connected, and 57% say loneliness has increased—figures significantly higher than in hybrid and in-office populations. Many workers report reduced social confidence, blurred work-life boundaries, and a sense of being “always on,” contributing to burnout.

Industries Most Dependent on Remote Work

Remote work adoption remains highest in white-collar and knowledge-driven fields:

• Finance & insurance (30% fully remote; 38% hybrid)
• Professional & business services (23%)
• Information/tech (22% fully remote; ~50% hybrid)
• Utilities (23%)
• Arts & entertainment (19%)
• Healthcare & social assistance (18%)
• Government (17%)

Industries requiring physical presence—education, real estate, manufacturing, transportation—remain largely in-person, though hybrid roles continue to grow.

Remote Work Hotspots: States With the Highest Work-From-Home Rates

Geographically, remote adoption varies dramatically:

• District of Columbia – 56.5%
• Colorado – 31.7%
• Massachusetts – 29.4%
• Maryland – 27.6%
• Followed by Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, Arizona, and California

These states tend to have economies heavy in tech, government, finance, and professional services—fields that rely heavily on digital workflows.

Gender Differences in Remote-Work Injuries

The study reveals clear gender gaps:

• Women are more likely to work fully remote (25% vs. 19%).
• Women suffer 2.3× more musculoskeletal strain than men while working remotely.
• Women account for 63% of repetitive-motion injuries.
• Men—more heavily represented in on-site, physical roles—make up 60–70% of slip-and-fall, equipment, and impact injuries.

These differences stress the need for targeted injury-prevention strategies based on job type and work environment.

A New Era Requires New Safety Standards

Experts agree: simple fixes could dramatically reduce injuries, such as ergonomic chairs, adjustable monitors, and scheduled movement breaks. The 20-20-20 rule—looking 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds—remains one of the simplest and most effective eye-strain prevention tools.

But long-term, employers and policymakers must rethink how workers’ compensation law applies to remote environments.

“As remote work becomes the norm, we must modernize our understanding of what a ‘workplace’ really is,” the report states.

At John Foy, we advocate for injured employees—remote or on-site—and help them navigate their workers’ compensation and legal options. If you’ve suffered a work-related injury at home, you may be entitled to the same protections as any in-office employee.