What started as an unavoidable solution to a unique situation is fast becoming the face of the new work culture. Business owners are learning that productivity is what matters and this period has taught us that is achievable outside of physical locations. Employees, especially those in busy metropolises, can save a lot of time on commute and be more productive. Also, employers just got access to a larger pool of talent who may have not been able to work certain jobs because they were location based.
Twitter, Square, Shopify and more recently Facebook are all making work from home a permanent option. I am certain many companies will follow suit especially those that do not fall in the line of essential services or require physical services like construction and the likes.
From reduced power consumption to a host of other office management requirements, this move will save companies tons of money expended on day to day maintenance of physical structures. I can’t help but feel sorry for office administrators and front desk officers whose positions are about to become extinct
There is so much buzz about all the advantages WFH brings but there are downsides too.
Beautiful sofas, mini-gyms, yoga studios, pool tables, bar stands, clean diet restaurants , great coffee all represent what new workspaces were just before the pandemic. The uptightness that defined the old work spaces was disappearing with more companies embracing relaxed dress codes. The whole essence of the revolution was to make the workplace as cool as home- sometimes even better.
Flat organisation structure and increased team bonding gave many offices warmth. The drab desks and old furniture were exchanged for bright sofas and positive quotes on the walls. Being in those spaces wasn’t as mentally draining as it used to be. It was the older ‘new normal’ and some of us loved it. But then, we got unceremoniously ushered into this new terrain.
While it is exciting to join work meetings in PJs, I think many people will miss the communal feeling that being in a physical workplace brought.
Or what do you think?
