Work From Home: The New Reality in the Post COVID World

The virus has forced us all to let go of what we thought was the regular normal routine and got us adjusted to a new way of living and doing work. The pandemic has been wreaking havoc for months all over the globe and for precautionary measures many will find themselves working remotely.

This flexible working arrangement, which may be a novelty for some, is becoming increasingly popular with many companies now realizing that they do not need office spaces at all. Twitter has made it official to its 5000 strong workforces to work from home forever if they chose to and they will get paid like a normal working day. The new option is available for those employees who do not need to be physically present in the office for certain roles that cannot be managed remotely. Tech giants Google and Facebook have extended its work-from-home policy for the remainder of 2020 but will reopen offices with enhanced safety measures in place.

Some employees are nervous about returning to work even when companies are redesigning their office spaces, modifying it to make it safer, and cater to the new social distancing norms. And working remotely comes with its perks for both the employer and employees. For employees its’ all about flexibility and the choice to work from a place they are comfortable at. It also means not having to battle the rush hour traffic or being tied down by that 9-5 clock routine. Home is a better choice than working in a cramped office space. For some employees, balancing work and home is like an art, they don’t mind blurring the boundary between work and home. But then some people draw a sharp line between their personal and professional life. They don’t like to lounge around in their home clothes all day, rather they prefer to dress up for the purpose, sit to work in a dedicated space, like a study room or home office with a door to keep out all possible distractions. Also, some may not have a right set up at home or space for them to concentrate on the work at hand.

With this all and the escalating global crisis, it’s a good sign that employers are reporting greater productivity and higher job satisfaction. And of course, this translates into enormous profitability for the employers. By allowing offsite work, businesses are saving on overhead costs like office spaces, light charges, and supply expenses, and so on. With such incredible interpersonal and corporate rewards at stake, it’s easy to see why work from home may be the new normal and foundation of the future.

The risks and benefits of offsite work have been a topic for debate for years now. It enables employees to live outside of the expensive urban areas where most corporate offices are located and also save a lot on traveling while cutting down carbon emissions from commuting. Employees can manage their work-life and family better. But then there is also a downside to it. Many people report losing the sense of camaraderie and those impromptu meetings, talking to colleagues for that spark of creativity and innovation. Discussing work-related hurdles, gaining knowledge and insights are not possible when at home but only in an office environment. Then there are some sectors like retail, hospitality, the travel industry, and manufacturing units that cannot offer the chance of remote working. Work from home may not be everyone, but wherever it is possible there are chances that this trend will catch on soon. It’s a scenario that is playing across the globe as the number of cases swells, more employers will encourage their staff to continue working from home for staying safe and commit to the social distancing practices.