This study uses the case of workers with disabilities to examine the relationship between remote work and work ability through the lens of affordance theory. Affordances, defined as the opportunities for action offered by the elements in the environment, provide a framework for understanding how spatial and technological adaptations can influence the work experiences of employees with varying needs. Using a mixed-methods approach, this paper combines a longitudinal quantitative analysis of over 6,000 employees with qualitative interviews conducted with 59 participants. The study explores how remote work interacts with the unique capabilities and requirements of employees with disabilities, emphasizing the relational nature of affordances across material, mental, and inter-relational dimensions of work ability. By addressing the imbrication of human and environmental factors, this research advances our understanding of how the work environment can shape job outcomes, offering insights into how remote work can contribute to employees’ work ability.
