Abstract

This study examines environmental comfort differences between home and office workspaces and their associations with productivity and well-being among 19 knowledge workers monitored over four months via ecological momentary assessments. Participants rated comfort across four domains (lighting, temperature, air quality, noise) and reported productivity, mood, stress, and stress states four times daily. Mixed-effects models indicated domain-specific patterns: offices showed higher comfort for lighting (OR=0.56) and noise (OR=0.48), while temperature showed individual heterogeneity. Lighting and temperature comfort were positively associated with productivity (4.3% and 2.4% increase per comfort level), while comfort showed weak associations with mood and stress. Bayesian multinomial models suggested that higher comfort was associated with lower odds of boredom (ORs=0.40-0.56). Substantial between-person heterogeneity was observed in the direction and magnitude of home-office differences in comfort, well-being, and productivity, suggesting that hybrid policies may not be one-size-fits-all and may benefit from greater flexibility, though these findings should be interpreted as exploratory.

Date

2026

Authors

Mirmahdi Seyedrezaei, Burçin Becerik-Gerber, Gale Lucas, Shawn C Roll, Shrikanth Narayanan

Publisher

International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate