When Home Becomes Office, WFH for Civil Servants Can Trigger Physical and Mental Fatigue

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government’s policy of implementing Work From Home (WFH) for Civil Servants (ASN) every Friday brings new health challenges, even though it eliminates the need to commute to the office like on other days.

Although working from home provides time flexibility, the home environment, which is not designed as a workspace, can trigger various physical and mental health disturbances for ASN.

Occupational Medicine Specialist at Mitra Keluarga Bekasi Timur Hospital and Lecturer at Politeknik Bhakti Kencana, Fani Syafani, assesses that a home can basically be turned into a workplace, but adjustments are necessary.

“The home environment can be modified into a workspace, ideally fulfilling Occupational Health and Safety aspects by applying the OHS Hierarchy and understanding potential risks or hazards in the home area or environment,” said Fani when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

The habit of working on the bed or sofa should be avoided because it does not support proper body posture.

The use of a suitable desk, chair, and screen position is a basic requirement that should be met. In addition, room lighting should not be overlooked.

The workspace should be sufficiently bright, like a typical office environment, so that the eyes do not tire quickly when staring at the screen for long periods.

However, according to Fani, this condition can become a serious problem if left unaddressed.

Non-ergonomic sitting positions, such as slouching or working on the bed, along with minimal stretching during work, are the main causes of these complaints.

“In the long term, it can cause pressure on muscles, the spine, and nerves,” said Fani.

If left unchecked, this condition can develop into more severe disorders and affect work productivity in the long term.

Moreover, Fani notes that working from home means sharing space with other activities, including family.

For some people, especially those with young children, this can become a source of constant distractions.

If not managed well, these disturbances can impact mental health.

“If not anticipated, over a long period, it can cause stress due to lack of focus when completing tasks, resulting in unmet work targets,” she said.

Workload not balanced with sufficient rest also risks triggering prolonged fatigue.

This condition affects not only the body but also motivation and work productivity.

“Fatigue or exhaustion causes a person to lack energy and decreased motivation,” she said.