Publication date: Jun 01, 2025

BackgroundRecent shifts in hybrid working practices have coincided with rising prices, potentially inducing inflation-related stress among employees. ObjectiveTo investigate associations between remote work status and self-reported inflation-related stress among employed US adults in an overall sample and stratified by gender identity and race/ethnicity. MethodsWe pooled data across 15 survey cycles (September 2022-October 2023) from the US Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. Remote work status was measured as 0, 1-2, 3-4, and 5 + days. Covariates included age, marital status, education, income, number of children, employment sector, region, and survey cycle. ResultsThe weighted sample comprised 48,686,575 individuals (0 days = 24%, 1-2 days = 23%, 3-4 days = 15%, and 5 + days = 38%), with 93% who self-reported stress related to inflation. Among the overall sample, employed individuals working remotely for 5 + days (adjusted OR [aOR] 0. 87, 95% CI 0. 80, 0. 95) had lower odds of self-reported inflation stress than workers with zero remote workdays. Similar associations were found among males (aOR 0. 87, 95% CI 0. 78, 0. 98), females (aOR 0. 87, 95% CI 0. 76, 0. 99), White individuals (aOR 0. 84, 95% CI 0. 77, 0. 93), and individuals of other race/ethnicity (aOR 0. 58, 95% CI 0. 37, 0. 90). We did not find any statistically significant remote work associations with self-reported inflation stress among Black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals. ConclusionsOur findings have important implications for occupational health, elucidating a potential positive relationship between remote work and inflation stress. These findings can inform how organizations shape their hybrid-working policies to minimize financial stress on employees.

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