The Dark Side of Working from Home
Once a longed for situation, the recent switch to working from home for many has exposed unexpected issues. Zero commute times, comfortable work attire and attending to housework through the day are certainly upsides to the recent work from home switch. However, the downside is causing many to long for their once despised office desks.
It’s not just having a dedicated work space that provides a physical split between work and home life that many long for; the company of colleagues, background office noises, and simply being in the presence of others is proving to be a siren call. Simply put, work from home employees are becoming lonely.
Redefining workspaces
The shift to remote work was long overdue. For decades, office workers around the world dreamed of the many benefits working from home could bring. As it happened, COVID-19 forced the hand of many employers and the results astounded most. Productivity rose and in many cases, employee satisfaction and engagement rose with it.
It shouldn’t have been so much of a surprise. Past studies, pre-COVID, indicated this would be the case. 72% of employees view working from home as a benefit and 46% who tried it felt less stress. However, of those included in these studies, 84% had others present in the house and in many cases a dedicated working space was available. No doubt, these simple factors had a big impact on the way participants felt about working from home.
Now that workplaces are being redrawn for many, the darker side of working from home is becoming apparent. Loneliness isn’t the only issue. Blurred lines between work hours and work-free time are causing some to come close to burn-out. Unsuitable work spaces in employees homes and issues with security for work systems are also considerations that need to be addressed.
Post-pandemic workplaces may not be the CBD office of the past but it’s equally unlikely home offices will be the solution that sticks. Rather some form of hybrid working arrangement is likely to become the ‘new normal’ for work that revolves around a computer screen.
Hybrid work arrangements
If 84% of office workers are able to create a dedicated home working space and not be alone, that leaves a substantial 16% who cannot. While this may not be enough of an employer’s workforce for them to pass on the substantial savings cutting their CBD office footprint could bring, it is enough to make them pause for thought.
However, the fact remains the incentives to reinvent the office are strong. Businesses have taken a massive hit to profits already. The impending downturn in the economy has many looking for ways to reduce costs wherever they can. A compromise on workplace overheads is already being sought and the name for it is Hybrid work. This solution uses smaller or flex-office spaces. Flexible arrangements for employees enable some to work from home, some to utilize a company office space, and yet others to work with a combination of both.
In many ways, the hybrid workplace answers key issues for all types of remote workers – those who are happy spending the majority of their time working from home as well as those who are not – and the businesses they work for.
Flexible office spaces support hybrid work arrangements for future facing businesses (Photo by Yolk CoWorking - Krakow on Unsplash)
The reduced over heads of smaller offices in suburban areas may also cut commute times for workers. This could make them even more attractive to businesses wishing to attract start talent. Centralized urban office spaces enable worker collaboration to continue while also supporting a company’s culture.
Those who don’t wish to return to an office permanently still need to meet with colleagues on occasion. In short, smaller office sizes and flexible workspaces accommodate both the business’ need to reduce expenditure and the employees need to have a dedicate and suitable working space that allows for contact with others.
Loneliness is no longer an issue when workers are able to get together regularly. Businesses still benefit from the increase to employee satisfaction and productivity work from home and flexible arrangements can bring. What’s more, the cost saving opportunity that flexible offices and suites bring to businesses may well be the answer to staying profitable through the impending economic downturn this pandemic is leading us to.