The Revolution of Working from Home: Is it the Future?

I am unsure if it was my ignorance, but I had not heard the term "Work from home" before 2020. The work scene changed drastically post-pandemic. It was a forced change for sure and there was no other option at that time. But now it has become a common norm. "Oh, I work from " has become a cool thing to tell someone. What was once considered a perk or a rare opportunity has now become a mainstream mode of employment for a considerable portion of the global workforce. Once you taste the blood of working from home, it becomes hard to go back to the normal office-going culture. However, it comes with some limitations and repercussions. But the question is - Is it going to be the future?

Then the question arises Is it possible for all the professions to allow work from home? For instance, how can a construction worker work from home, or how can a doctor perform surgery while working from home? But with AI and robotics, would these professions be revolutionized? Well, that's a topic for another day. For now, it's a booming trend. Is it more productive, less productive or makes no difference at all? Let's dig into what my research and my interactions with the folks suggested to me.

Advantages of Working From Home

Employee's perspective:

From an employee's perspective, the most notable advantage is the flexibility it affords. The ability to tailor one’s work schedule around personal commitments leads to an improved work-life balance, thereby enhancing overall life satisfaction and productivity.

The Business Pyjamas:

It is the biggest relief not having to worry about what you are going to wear tomorrow. When you are in bed already and you realize that you forgot to iron your favourite shirt for an important meeting with your boss. You don't have to worry about that when you are working from home. Your comfy pyjamas become your new corporate suit. No need to constantly update your professional wardrobe with the latest trends-pyjamas and casual wear is budget-friendly.

The Traffic you don't mind:

Working from home provides you with a commute-free life. The only traffic that you might face is when your black Labrador or your Persian cat blocks your way when you are on your way to grab that leftover snack from the fridge. I love that traffic.

No forced small talks:

You are already grumpy to wake up early after a long weekend and someone in the office wants to know "So, how was your weeeekend"??Being a social animal you have to unwillingly answer that. But not if you are working from home.

You can avoid those awkward small-talk moments when you are in the elevator and have nowhere to look at except your coworkers. The only small talk you need while working at home is with yourself when you are deciding what to eat after half an hour.

Personalized background noise:

You are in total control of your background noise while working at home. Whether you want pin-drop silence or you want to play trance music by David Guetta, you are the DJ. You are not forced to listen to the printer music when Tracey is printing tons of documents.

That bonus sleep:

First and foremost is the time an employee saves by not having to wake up early to get ready. The dreams we see in those extra 40 minutes of sleep are the real motivation. It helps to avoid the morning rush hour anxiety. You do not have to worry about the traffic, the parking spot and most importantly about what to wear at work the next day. People who always work from home take showers in the evening and I am sure they skip that too sometimes.

No fear of judgment:

When you work from home you lose all the fears of judgment. Whether you are brainstorming or venting against someone one is around you to think that you have lost it. You can use as many cuss words in English or your native language without any fear of being taken to HR.

Save the money for that yearly trip:

There are multiple ways that you save when you work No commuting cost is the biggest spending on gas or public transportation. When you are working from home, your eating out is reduced to more coffee runs and lunches at restaurants. Without passing by stores or cafes during your commute, you are less likely to make unplanned purchases. Moreover, you can also claim potential tax deductions for home office expenses.

Employer's perspective:

The biggest advantage for an employer is the cost savings on office space. Less need for large office spaces, reducing rent, utilities and maintenance costs. It could not be beneficial for the employee though as they add on to their electricity and internet bills if they are not eligible for tax deductions.

The surveys reveal that if an employee is satisfied then they become more productive for the business. I talked to a few people who work from home and they said they are more focused and efficient at home. Even if they multitask like folding their laundry or chopping their veggies, they still produce better output.

Normally, employees burn out after a continuous period of working. They tend to use the sick days available to them. However, the flexibility of working from home often leads to fewer sick days and a better work-life balance. The employer saves some in terms of fewer sick calls.

Working from home option allows employers to hire the best talent in the world. They do not have to worry about the location of the talent and the commuting distance. The employers get better access to the talent pool available out there.

Challenges and Considerations:

Despite the numerous benefits, working from home is not without its challenges. One of the main concerns is the potential for compromised communication and collaboration. We mostly meet our teammates virtually on Zoom, Skype or Microsoft Teams. However virtual interactions can sometimes lack the immediacy and richness of face-to-face interactions. You almost work on your own when you work from home and that is not ideal for team cohesion and a feeling of belonging to the team.

But for me, the more concerning factor is the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life. Just to wrap up your work, you often tend to work after office hours. It can lead to heightened stress levels and burnout if not managed appropriately. Employers must therefore provide adequate support, establish clear expectations, and promote a healthy work-life balance.

Cybersecurity is another critical consideration matter if use you a strong VPN before you log in to the office system. If there is a breach, it becomes a serious concern and often leads to termination of the employment. The increase in remote access to company systems necessitates strong security measures to protect sensitive information.

My Personal Reservations:

As they say, never take work to home. If you have a stressful day at work which we do very often, you can still go home and distract your mind with family, pets etc. Just the change of atmosphere helps. But now, the Home has become a workspace. Where would you go for an escape- to the toilet??

However, my personal favourite is the Hybrid model. Just like cars, it allows you to run on gas on the street and also you can be electric at home. I get to work for a day at home and I wait for that day. It surely helps me to unwind a bit. But of course, it brings back the spark and energy to go out there and perform the duties of being a social animal.

Some Bonus Tips:

• Check a trillion times if your camera is off and the mic is on mute before you engage in some unparliamentary activities.

• Make sure your partner or family members are aware that you are in a team meeting with 100 others so that they don't walk around behind you in their undies.

• Try to become the master of yawning with your mouth closed.

• The corporate laughter- While in the meetings, you might have to unmute yourself in between just to throw in your corporate laughter here and there just to pretend that you are listening to everything that Sarah has been telling for an hour.

• Online meetings do get interesting sometimes. Just be patient and wait for someone to contradict the speaker. You will feel the time is flying. There is always one of those rebels in every team meeting.

Conclusion:

One thing is sure people who work from home all the time would easily be able to survive if there is a zombie apocalypse in the future. They are already trained to live in a bunker. Jokes apart, the revolution of working from home has proved that board meetings could be successfully conducted with a dress shirt on top and fuzzy bunny slippers below. The employees have also mastered the art of multitasking-finding a solution to a complex problem while the dog demands yet another belly rub.

The revolution of working from home is a next-level evolution of employment practices and I believe it's the future of work. By understanding and addressing the pros and cons, both organizations and individuals can utilize the full potential of remote work, creating a more flexible, efficient, and sustainable model for the world. So, whether you're an employer saving on a coffee filter or an employee perfecting the zoom mute-unmute dance, it's sure that working from home has redefined the 9-to-5 grind. However, my vote still goes for the Hybrid model.

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