Should Employees Stay at Home After the Pandemic?

The pandemic has had a significant effect on nearly all aspects of life but none more so than business. Subsequent lockdowns, social distancing and the virus itself have all changed the way in which companies operate, both internally and with their customers.

With the advent of the covid-19 vaccines, we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that not everything will reset back to the way it was pre-pandemic. One particular effect of covid which could end up being revolutionary, is working from home.

During the entirety of Covid, the government recommended that those who can work from home, should. In fact, this recommendation has only recently been changed but not everyone wants to go back to the ways things were. Many workers have discovered that they can be just as productive at home, whilst maintaining a better work-life balance and saving money. It’s therefore no surprise that many employees would like to continue working from home in the long-term, either full-time or part-time. In fact, YouGov found that 57% of workers polled, would like to continue working from home, post-Covid.

Benefits

During the pandemic, working from home was a new experience for most people. This means that many discovered the benefits of this arrangement for the first time in their working lives. When compared with a standard 9-5, working from home can offer a variety of benefits. For example, removing the commute doesn’t only save time and money, it also reduces stress. Home based work also offers much more flexibility, whether that be the time at which you start or the ability to incorporate other tasks into your working day. Whether that be the school run, shopping or just regular breaks. The main driving force behind this reluctance to return to the office is the work-life balance. Those who work from home don’t have to mould every aspect of their daily life around their career and therefore, many are happier. This could mean spending more time with partners, children or animals or even just sidestepping the pressures of the office environment.

It’s also worth noting that the business itself can benefit from its employees working from home. Fewer people in the office means less energy consumption and less investment needed. In fact, some companies may even choose to downsize, leading to a substantial saving in rent or mortgage. Some managers may even find that their workers are more productive at home, due to flexible hours and job satisfaction.

Drawbacks

Whilst there are many positives to home-working, there are some drawbacks which should be considered. For example, some people find that they can’t work as well at home as they are more likely to become distracted. There’s also a possibility for workers to become affected by isolation, leading to loneliness and stress. Similarly, being away from peers can negate the productivity that comes from group working.

Outside of the business, one of the main changes that is worrying the government is the effect this will have on the already struggling economy. Fewer office workers mean fewer commutes, fewer tickets bought for public transport and fewer people spending money on the high street.

Hybrid

The genie is already out of the bottle and it’s unlikely that business will revert completely to its pre-covid self. Yes, many workers will be happy to return to the office but others won’t. Research has shown that some employees will even go as far as to find a new job if their boss refuses to let them continue working from home. Businesses need to incorporate the new normal into their work model and a hybrid approach could be the ideal solution. Most workers are happy to split their working time between the office and home. This allows companies to maintain a healthy office environment, whilst also providing workers with some freedom and flexibility.

It seems like the government are behind this idea as they are proposing giving new employees the right to request flexible working hours from the moment they start their new job. As opposed to current rules where employees have to wait until they have worked in this role for six months.

Thanks to video calling, social media and virtual meetings, working from home has never been easier. It’s therefore likely that business owners will embrace this change or face an unhappy workforce.