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Summary
The shift towards remote work has fundamentally changed professional and personal dynamics, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the consequences of working from home (WFH) on health and wellbeing through analysing panel data from France, Germany, and the UK. While WFH may promise advantages such as flexibility, autonomy, and reduced commuting stress, it also presents challenges, including blurred boundaries between work and life, fewer social interactions, and digital fatigue. Our study finds no significant impact on subjective health or overall wellbeing. However, the evidence does suggest an increase in loneliness, particularly in the UK. Adaptation dynamics emerge over time, with initial negative impacts reducing for some workers. However, such impacts vary depending on gender and family status. Mothers who lived with their children reported lower wellbeing, while fathers experience more positive effects, echoing traditional caregiving responsibilities. The findings suggest that, while WFH may not pose significant risks to health, its broader societal implications warrant further investigation, which includes reduced social interactions and potential workplace inequalities. As remote work becomes a permeant feature of society, policies must address such disparities to ensure equitable and sustainable work environments.