Remote Work Injuries Are Surging in the U.S., New Analysis Shows
A new nationwide review from John Foy & Associates, one of the country’s leading personal injury firms, reveals that remote workers are facing a growing—and often unexpected—set of injury risks. With 22.8% of the U.S. workforce (36.1 million people) now working hybrid or fully remote as of March 2025, the line between workplace injuries and household accidents has become increasingly blurred.
Before 2020, only 6% of Americans worked from home. Today, millions of employees perform daily tasks in improvised spaces, and the shift has introduced physical and psychological strain that traditional workplaces once helped prevent.
The Rise of At-Home Workplace Injuries
Injury claims among remote workers have risen by 24% to 54%, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), with most tied to musculoskeletal strain and stress-related conditions.
The data shows:
- 61% of remote workers report worsening musculoskeletal pain, including stiff necks, tight shoulders, lower-back pain, and wrist strain.
- 41% say their back, shoulder, or wrist pain directly started or worsened because of working from home.
- Improvised workstations—kitchen counters, couches, beds, or low tables—are major contributors.
- Routine household hazards lead to workplace-hour slips, trips, and falls, which are valid injury claims when they occur during job-related tasks.
Repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis are sharply increasing. Complaints of eye strain and computer vision syndrome have also become widespread among employees spending hours staring at screens without breaks.
The findings confirm what injury attorneys increasingly see: the home office can be just as hazardous as any traditional workplace, yet far less regulated.
Mental Health: The Hidden Remote-Work Injury
Remote work may offer flexibility, but it also shows a stark mental-health downside.
- 45% of fully remote employees recently experienced anxiety, compared to 38–39% among hybrid or in-office workers.
- Depression affects 40% of fully remote workers, higher than in-person staff (35%).
- Only 36% of full-time remote workers say they are “thriving,” compared to 42% of hybrid workers.
- 66% report reduced social connection, and 57% link loneliness to worsening mental health.
Mental health conditions increasingly qualify as work-related injuries when tied to job demands, workload, or employer expectations—something injury lawyers say many workers still don’t realize.
Which Industries Have the Most Remote Workers?
Remote work is not evenly distributed across sectors. The industries with the highest rates of fully remote employees include:
- Finance & insurance – 30% fully remote; 38% hybrid
- Professional & business services – 23%
- Utilities – 23%
- Information/tech sector – 22%
Creative fields (arts, media) follow at 19%, while essential sectors such as health care and government see 17–18% working from home.
By contrast, real estate and education see only 9% of staff fully remote, reflecting the physical presence those industries require.
The States Where Remote Work Is Most Common
Remote work adoption varies dramatically by location. The top-working-from-home regions are:
- District of Columbia — 56.5%
- Colorado — 31.7%
- Massachusetts — 29.4%
- Maryland — 27.6%
Other states including Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, Arizona, and California show mid-20% usage, largely driven by tech, healthcare administration, and professional services.
States with hands-on service industries maintain mostly onsite workforces.
Remote Work and Gender Differences
The data reveals a clear gender divide:
- 25% of women work fully remote vs. 19% of men
- 61% of men remain fully on-site, compared to 54% of women
- Women in remote roles experience higher rates of musculoskeletal strain
- Women make up 63% of all repetitive-motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel
- Men sustain the majority of acute, environmental on-site injuries (60–70%)
This split shows that injury prevention must adapt to both setting and gender-specific risk exposure.
Preventing Remote-Work Injuries
Experts emphasize that many injuries can be prevented with simple interventions:
- Use adjustable chairs and eye-level monitors
- Maintain neutral wrist positioning
- Take hourly micro-breaks to stretch
- Apply the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
- Declutter cords, rugs, and walkways
- Schedule standing breaks or alternating sitting/standing sessions
Ergonomic improvements are inexpensive, and companies that support them see fewer long-term claims.
Remote Work Is Now Permanent—So Safety Must Catch Up
With remote workers now representing nearly a quarter of the U.S. workforce, home-based injuries are no longer fringe incidents—they are a mainstream workplace safety issue. Injury claims tied to remote work continue to rise, especially for musculoskeletal disorders, repetitive strain injuries, and stress-related conditions.
Mental health, ergonomic strain, and household hazards all play a role, and many workers remain unaware that injuries at home can still qualify as work injuries.
Attorneys at John Foy & Associates say awareness, early reporting, and proper documentation are critical—whether an injury occurs in a traditional office or a home office.
