A new nationwide study from John Foy & Associates reveals a sharp rise in remote-work injuries across the United States, exposing a major workplace-safety blind spot as more Americans than ever carry out their jobs from home. As of March 2025, 22.8% of the U.S. workforce—36.1 million people—are now hybrid or fully remote, compared to just 6% before 2020. With such a dramatic shift, the line between a workplace injury and a household accident has become more blurred than ever.
According to the report, remote worker injury claims have increased between 24% and 54%, a trend driven heavily by musculoskeletal strain and stress-related conditions. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) finds that the majority of at-home claims involve neck stiffness, lower-back pain, shoulder strain, and repetitive-motion injuries, problems stemming from non-ergonomic home setups and prolonged sitting.
Musculoskeletal Pain Is Becoming a Defining Symptom of Remote Work
The study confirms that 61% of remote employees report worsening musculoskeletal discomfort, with 41% saying they’ve developed new pain in their back, shoulders, or wrists since transitioning to at-home work. Makeshift office setups, working at kitchen tables, on sofas, or hunched over laptops, are major contributors.
Repetitive-strain conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and chronic wrist pain are increasingly common. Remote employees also report high rates of eye strain and computer vision syndrome, a consequence of spending full workdays in front of screens with little movement.
Even everyday household hazards, such as loose cables, cluttered spaces, or slippery floors, have led to on-the-clock slips, trips, and falls, complicating workers’ compensation claims and coverage guidelines.
Mental Health Costs of Remote Work Are Rising Too
Beyond physical injury, the report highlights a serious mental-health downside to fully remote employment. Remote workers report:
- 45% anxiety rates (vs. 38–39% in hybrid/in-office staff)
- 40% depression rates (higher than in-office workers at 35%)
- Only 36% of full-time remote workers say they’re thriving
Isolation is a major culprit. The survey shows that 66% of remote workers feel less socially connected, 57% report increased loneliness, and 25% say their social skills have declined since working at home.
This combination of physical and psychological strain reveals that remote work, while flexible and convenient, presents risks that traditional offices were once better equipped to manage.
Industries With the Most Remote Workers
Remote work is highly concentrated in knowledge-based sectors. The industries with the highest proportion of fully remote workers are:
- Finance & insurance – 30% fully remote, 38% hybrid
- Professional & business services – 23% fully remote
- Utilities – 23%
- Information/tech – 22% fully remote, nearly half hybrid
- Arts, entertainment & recreation – 19%
- Healthcare & social assistance – 18%
- Government – 17%
By contrast, hands-on fields such as real estate, education, construction, and hospitality feature significantly lower remote-work adoption.
Where Remote Work Is Most Common in the U.S.
The District of Columbia leads the nation with 56.5% of workers staying home—a reflection of federal and white-collar job concentrations. Colorado (31.7%), Massachusetts (29.4%), Maryland (27.6%), Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, Arizona, and California also rank among the most remote-friendly.
States with more manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, or service-driven economies continue to rely primarily on in-person work.
Remote Work Safety Is Now a Policy Issue, Not a Perk
With injury claims rising, the study stresses a clear need for stronger employer guidelines, clearer workers’ compensation standards, and universal ergonomic best practices—such as adjustable chairs, eye-level monitors, and the well-known 20-20-20 rule to prevent eye strain.
“Every home office is now a workplace,” the study concludes. “And workplace safety rules must evolve accordingly.”
At John Foy, we help employees understand their rights when they suffer workplace injuries—whether they occur on-site or at home. If you’ve been hurt on the job, our team can help you secure the compensation and support you deserve.
