Remote Work Study Finds Troubling Increase in Isolation, Mental Distress

While remote work comes with many perks, a recent study warns that there’s been a significant increase in isolation and mental distress.

“The increase in [mental] distress was roughly twice as large for those living alone, compared with those living with family,” researchers said in their report, published in the academic journal: Science.

“Alternative measures of mental distress — such as the frequency of depression, mental health care utilization, and antidepressant prescriptions — show similar trends.”

The study also found that remote workers who lived alone were more likely to avoid social activities with friends — maintaining their isolation regardless of working hours.

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Employers Moving Away From Remote Work

In 2026, Amazon, Dell, and other major employers have required staff to fully resume in-office work — a move that’s negatively affected many individuals who claim a hybrid work arrangement has substantially improved their well-being.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.