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National Work From Home Day

Take your work home with you and do your job from the comfort of your home office, or even your couch and sweatpants, and see how your productivity changes.

Jobs & Professions Life & Living62

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Position your WFH-enabling products and services (software, furniture, internet, office supplies) as productivity boosters during National Work From Home Day.

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History

Taking your work home with you is something that’s been going on as long as there have been people engaged in any form of trade or commerce. We’ve always heard tales of the boss who comes home and spends time pouring over the books or takes their work on vacation with them, or who expects their employees to do the same.

The introduction of the internet has done nothing to slow these events from happening, but they have started making them more common and less ‘extra time spent working’ and more ‘getting to avoid your commute’.

There’s a lot of great opportunities for employee and employer alike in having National Work From Home Days, including flexibility for employees who have loved ones they care for who fall sick, have appointments in the middle of the day, or who have reasons of their own for needing a day away from the office without costing themselves a day’s wages.

National Work From Home Day’s can be given as a reward for great performance, as an alternative to a sick day, or just as part of standard practice if the employee’s job doesn’t require them to be in the office all the time.

How to celebrate

Evaluate Work from Home Opportunities

If you’re the person in charge you may want to take some time to examine the way your company and industry works and see if there’s an opportunity to allow some of your employees to work from home on occasion. If instead, you’re an employee at such an institution, perhaps try speaking to your leadership and fellow employees to see if it would be possible to institute such a program at your business.

Enjoy Work Flexibility

National Work From Home Day’s provides an opportunity for flexibility that can help raise the morale of your employees, avoid lost productivity, and provide solutions for those going through temporary hardships. Not all companies are on board when it comes to working from home and often it can be places of work that have a very strict ‘clocking in and out’ policy. They may not always trust that their employees will work when they are supposed to and that they will complete the work that is expected of them.

Learn Ways to Be Productive at Home

Not everybody enjoys working from home and sometimes the two parts of our lives need to be separate. However, there are times when working in your own sanctuary can pay off. If you think it’s counterproductive to work from your own home, then think again. It’s actually been found that people work to a slightly higher standard at home. Yes, you may well have distractions at home and that sofa and box set might be calling you, but you’re more likely to put in the effort to get the job done. First thing you need to prioritize is a workstation! Find somewhere that is comfortable and practical that perhaps doesn’t include your bed. Not only will be more organized and efficient, but you’ll also feel more constructive if you sit at an actual desk and get ready for your day wearing some actual clothes, rather than your pajamas.

Fight Procrastination

Remember that procrastination will most likely try and be your best friend. Hanging out the laundry and starting those little DIY jobs (you’ve been meaning to do since last year) suddenly become appealing – or they’re staring you right in the face, making you feel compelled to sort them out. They aren’t going to help you stay productive and the jobs will still be there for the end of the day or the weekends, as they normally would. Then set yourself a schedule and stick to it. Set your start time for the day, what time your break periods will be and what time you’ll finish for the day. This will keep you on track with your workload and avoid tasks creeping into your evening and family time. Not only does it stop you working overtime but it also sends the message to your co-workers that you are working in a productive way at home.

Get Some Fresh Air

If you’d normally get out for some fresh air when you’re at work, then make sure that you allow yourself to do the same at home. Not only do you need to mix things up a bit during your day for your sanity, but you need to set your routines so that they’re similar. Get outdoors for some fresh air and escape the four walls that you have been looking at for a while! Whether working from home is an occasional occurrence or not, make sure that you know how to get the most out of it when it happens. Having the flexibility to do so and an employer that allows it, is a key advantage to have and is the future with a lot of companies and their employees. National Work From Home Day Timeline1857First Commercial Telephones Hint at Future Remote WorkThe installation of the first permanent commercial telephone line in the United States created a new way for information workers to connect without being physically present, laying a technical foundation for later telecommuting. [1]1969ARPANET Connects Remote ComputersThe U.S. Defense Department’s ARPANET linked multiple computers at different universities, proving that people can access shared digital resources from afar and foreshadowing the networked office work that later enables working from home. [1]1973Jack Nilles Coined the Term “Telecommuting”NASA engineer Jack Nilles developed and named the concept of “telecommuting” during a project for the U.S. National Science Foundation, arguing that work should travel via telecommunications rather than workers commuting to centralized offices. 1979IBM Starts Formal Work‑From‑Home ExperimentsIBM allowed several employees to work from home as an official experiment, one of the earliest large corporate telecommuting programs, demonstrating that office tasks can be performed effectively outside the traditional workplace. 1996U.S. Telework Enhancement Policies Began to Take ShapeThe U.S. General Services Administration and the Office of Personnel Management published guidance and pilot programs for federal telework, helping to formalize work-from-home arrangements in government and influencing private-sector practices. [1]2003Broadband Overtakes Dial‑Up in U.S. HomesHigh‑speed broadband subscriptions surpassed dial‑up internet connections in American households, making it far more practical for knowledge workers to connect to corporate networks from home and collaborate online. [1]2020Global Pandemic Triggers Massive Shift to Home‑Based WorkCOVID‑19 led governments worldwide to mandate or encourage remote work where possible, and organizations rapidly expanded work‑from‑home arrangements, with the OECD and ILO documenting unprecedented shares of employees suddenly working from home.

First Commercial Telephones Hint at Future Remote Work

The installation of the first permanent commercial telephone line in the United States created a new way for information workers to connect without being physically present, laying a technical foundation for later telecommuting. [1]

ARPANET Connects Remote Computers

The U.S. Defense Department’s ARPANET linked multiple computers at different universities, proving that people can access shared digital resources from afar and foreshadowing the networked office work that later enables working from home. [1]

Jack Nilles Coined the Term “Telecommuting”

NASA engineer Jack Nilles developed and named the concept of “telecommuting” during a project for the U.S. National Science Foundation, arguing that work should travel via telecommunications rather than workers commuting to centralized offices.

IBM Starts Formal Work‑From‑Home Experiments

IBM allowed several employees to work from home as an official experiment, one of the earliest large corporate telecommuting programs, demonstrating that office tasks can be performed effectively outside the traditional workplace.

U.S. Telework Enhancement Policies Began to Take Shape

The U.S. General Services Administration and the Office of Personnel Management published guidance and pilot programs for federal telework, helping to formalize work-from-home arrangements in government and influencing private-sector practices. [1]

Broadband Overtakes Dial‑Up in U.S. Homes

High‑speed broadband subscriptions surpassed dial‑up internet connections in American households, making it far more practical for knowledge workers to connect to corporate networks from home and collaborate online. [1]

Global Pandemic Triggers Massive Shift to Home‑Based Work

COVID‑19 led governments worldwide to mandate or encourage remote work where possible, and organizations rapidly expanded work‑from‑home arrangements, with the OECD and ILO documenting unprecedented shares of employees suddenly working from home.

FAQ

What is the difference between working from home, remote work, and telework?

Working from home usually means performing one’s usual job from a home location some or all of the time, often as part of a hybrid schedule. Remote work is a broader term that covers any arrangement where the job is done away from a central office, which can include home, co‑working spaces, or other locations. Telework is often used in government and policy documents to describe work done away from the employer’s premises using information and communication technologies, and can include both home‑based and other off‑site locations. [1]

Does working from home actually increase productivity?

Research suggests that working from home can increase productivity for many types of knowledge work, often due to fewer interruptions, reduced commuting time, and more flexible scheduling. However, productivity gains depend heavily on having clear goals, appropriate technology, supportive management, and a suitable home workspace; without these, distractions, poor communication, and overwork can offset potential benefits. [1]

How does working from home affect mental health and well‑being?

Working from home can improve well‑being by cutting commuting stress and offering more control over one’s schedule, but it can also increase feelings of isolation, blur work‑life boundaries, and contribute to longer working hours. Mental health outcomes tend to be best when people have access to social contact, clear limits between work and personal time, ergonomic workstations, and supportive workplace policies that recognize psychosocial risks.

What responsibilities do employers have toward employees who work from home?

Employers generally retain many of the same obligations for home‑based staff as for on‑site employees, including providing safe working conditions, managing working hours, and protecting data and privacy. Depending on the jurisdiction, this can include assessing home‑office risks, providing equipment or guidance on ergonomics, preventing excessive working time, and ensuring that remote workers are not discriminated against in pay, promotion, or training opportunities.

What are some evidence‑based tips for setting up a healthy home workspace?

Occupational health guidance recommends using a chair that supports the lower back, positioning the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, keeping the keyboard and mouse at elbow height, and placing frequently used items within easy reach to avoid awkward postures. Experts also suggest regular breaks to stand and stretch, good lighting to reduce eye strain, and, where possible, a dedicated work area that allows clear separation between work and personal life.

Are there common misconceptions about working from home that research does not support?

Several widespread beliefs about home‑based work are not fully backed by evidence, such as the idea that employees are inherently less productive at home or that serious work cannot be supervised remotely. Studies show that, under well‑managed arrangements, performance is often maintained or improved, and digital tools can support oversight and collaboration. Another misconception is that remote workers are automatically more relaxed, while in practice, many report working longer hours and feeling pressure to be constantly available.

How does acceptance of working from home differ across countries and cultures?

Acceptance of working from home varies widely, influenced by job structures, housing conditions, labor laws, and cultural expectations about visibility at work. High‑income countries with strong digital infrastructure and a large share of service jobs tend to have higher rates of home‑based work, while economies that rely more on in‑person or informal work see lower adoption. Cultural norms about trust, face time, and gender roles also shape who is allowed or encouraged to work remotely and how such arrangements are perceived.