Background: The COVID-19 pandemic could have led to a technological revolution however it has caused work productivity loss, especially among people working from home.
Objective: This study examined the frequency and related factors of work productivity loss, focusing on work-related factors, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey of Japanese workers. Questionnaires were distributed using snowball sampling through e-mail and social networking sites.
Results: Of the respondents, 708 non-medical workers reported subjective work productivity loss during the first wave of the pandemic, compared with before. A multiple regression analysis showed that living with preschool-age children, having poor mental health, not using video conferencing solutions, and increased e-mail communication were related to work productivity loss. A subgroup analysis of those working from home showed similar variables associated with work productivity loss.
Conclusions: More than 70% of workers in Japan experienced work productivity loss during the first wave of the pandemic. Moreover, factors such as time-consuming tasks or background distractions might lead to operational inefficacy.
Keywords: COVID-19; efficiency; family characteristics; infections; mental health; teleworking.