The recent shift towards remote work has broadened the discourse surrounding its implications beyond work-life balance to encompass social, economic, and spatial aspects. In this article, we systematically review the literature on the impacts of remote work five years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2015–2024), aiming to understand how remote work affects employees, employers, societies, and the environment. We also explore how the impacts of remote work can vary regionally by zooming in on Finland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and the Greater Luxembourg Region. Our preliminary findings indicate that remote work has complex effects on mental health, with both positive aspects like flexibility and negative aspects like work overload and technostress. The literature also shows gender disparities, particularly affecting women with family responsibilities. Economically, remote work has led to increased digital up-skilling and changes in employer attitudes, but it has also highlighted inequalities in remote work opportunities across different sectors and demographic groups. Spatially, while remote work can reduce commuting, it may increase non-work travel and energy use at home, causing environmental and spatial inequalities. Our regional review shows that in Finland and Norway, remote work from second homes benefits rural areas but raises concerns about local infrastructure and services. In Spain and Portugal, remote work and digital nomadism are linked to gentrification and housing market instability. Finally, we identify a clear gap in empirical research on cross-border remote work in the Greater Luxembourg Region, emphasizing the need for studies on the socio-economic impacts of such arrangements.
