There has been a lot of debate regarding home working which has become more popular since the Covid-19 outbreak. Some employers have recently reverted all employees back to office-based working five days a week.
Should we be able to work from home in our pjs or drag ourselves back to the office in heavy traffic queues, drinking bad coffee and eating expensive overpriced lunches? Or are we missing the culture of office working, the banter, and real face-to-face conversations?
The workplace has now become increasingly more diverse with a higher percentage of workers who have caring responsibilities. Companies are recognising the importance of offering a more flexible work-life balance. This enables employees to better balance their work and home commitments.
Now we know many roles can be worked remotely, it’s no longer a temporary measure. It has become part of the working world many of us now live in. Some believe that their productivity has skyrocketed since having the opportunity to work from home in more flexible terms, with an increase in their work-life balance. No more sitting in traffic queues adding hours onto the working day but being able to get up in the comfort of your own home and just start work, no getting ready or making lunches for everyone’s day.
There are some employers now who would like employees to return to the office to get that balance of face-to-face teamwork back and have that creativity buzz back in the office. Are we missing the office culture, banter and parties?
Some employees have embraced working from home and studies have shown that they have had a productivity increase of 13% compared to those who work in the office full-time. Working from home will give fewer distractions and allow you to concentrate on the task at hand rather than the conversation next to you on the latest Netflix hit TV show.
The no commute is a huge bonus for some instead of sitting in hours of traffic every week you have more time for real-life things. You have time to put a load of laundry on, fill the dishwasher, and prep the evening meal before your actual work needs to start. Still making meetings, hitting deadlines, and completing your everyday tasks with the ability to enjoy home life and be more present for your family.
Research shows that 55% of employees prefer to work from home because it offers them flexibility, they feel trusted to do their job, in control of their own time, and not to mention reduced expenses.
For most employees, remote working is not a luxury anymore. It has become a necessity and it’s a game changer. Whilst still maintaining their professional responsibilities, it has made their home life less challenging leading to happier, healthier and more productive employees.
Some employers believe remote working was fine for a while . Although, it is common for employers to consider the culture, teamwork, and working collaboratively together face-to-face. Many employers want colleagues to connect again in the real world instead of a virtual one. Employers may worry that remote workers could lose sight of their company’s mission and values whilst working with no office environment.
A lot of employees say they are more productive from home in terms of output. However, it is trickier for employers to see whether employees are engaging with clients, suppliers and customers the same way they would in the office environment.
Employers may also have concerns about integrating new staff if everyone is working from home. How would that new member of staff get to meet and greet their department or team in a meaningful way? Whilst Zoom is good for some things, there are just some things that need to happen face-to-face.
Both sides have valid points. Some employees feel having the freedom to work remotely increases productivity. Others say having the buzz of the office builds a culture of collaboration and mentorship. Should it have to be one or the other?
Hybrid working offers the best of both worlds. Remote working with office days still gives employees the flexibility they need. Are we missing the point? The future isn’t about where we sit, it’s about how we collaborate and connect, whether that be in pyjamas or power suits.
To find out more information or if you require guidance on managing remote working please get in contact with our team of experts.
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