Work From Home

KK

Work from home (WFH) has become a norm now in post-covid scenario. With the passage of time, people have not only compromised to new situation but have also made it a way of life.

Initially it was uncomfortable for both employer and employee, as they had to adjust with new techniques of meetings and ongoing interactions. But people have quickly become adept at online meetings through apps like zoom.

Peculiar places in the house like bedrooms, closets, verandahs or backyard spaces were converted into work stations. No commuting, no full formal (formal shirt and informal bermuda), but full family life. People started enjoying it. Loss of power or connectivity was a plus thing.

But gradually all started weighing pros and cons. The employer was saving the cost of building, electricity, water and other consummables, while the employee was saving time and money on commuting.

With opening of economy and business, demands started building up on both sides. Now a few employees are feeling pressure and seem a bit pissed off that they have to work more in terms of hours.

In a study it has been found that around three fourth people experience pain and discomfort very frequently during WFH. Most feel pain in the neck and shoulder, and a few even in the wrists.

The most awkward situations emerge due to disruptors like the spouse, a child or even a pet, when they show up unexpectedly on screen during a video call.

Despite all pulls and pressures, a lot of people have adopted the new normal and enjoy the online work style. They can squeeze out some time for personal and family work as well. Surprisingly, a few kids, I talked to, were not interested in going back to their schools on reopening.

This is the zoom age. We have to zoom out and zoom in as the situation demands.


–Kaushal Kishore

images: pixabay

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38 Comments

  1. This system was also adopted in my company, but I think productivity decreases. Communication through the computer loses quality, at least in my work, being face to face the transmitted message has more nuances that improve it. On the other hand, being physically in the same space has another type of silent communication that comes into play, and that is visual. For example, a piece enters the office that is not for you, but you are already up to date in a small percentage in your mental register. Working from home also that communication is lost

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    1. I tend to agree with you. There are work places like banks, where physical presence is must, but in software industry, online communication may be okay. One thing is, however certain that online can’t replace offline completely. Both will have their respective utilities as per circumstances. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful reflections 😊

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    1. You may be right in your perception, but in a government school, I was attached to, there are 75 to 80% students who are attending school now after reopening.😊🤗

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  3. As always, you have presented both sides of the argument, Kaushal, equally fair.
    In my view, the stimulation and the camaraderie of the workplace, the buzz of mixing with many
    people is missing when working from home. The same should be for the children
    unless they work less diligently when not at school.

    Joanna

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    1. You’re right, Joanna, the personal touch is missing in online meetings or classes, but when there was complete lockdown, online mode is like something better than nothing. But now I understand that there are software companies which are continuing with online work despite unlock, as they are saving a lot. There are pros and cons of any aspect. Thank you, Joanna for sharing your thoughts!!

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    1. Yes, Ashley, in this digital age we have already lost human touch, when even in a family, all members are busy with their own phones or ipads. This has become necessary evil. The future doesn’t seem to be bright.

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  7. Hmmn. I read Electronic Education at Master’s level from the University of Ghana Legon. During the period of study. I deduced, that online education will steal the thunder of the regular face to face. Most things are done online now. We now have online medical consulting rooms…

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    1. Online work or classes were started during lockdown as a way out, but looking to its convenience, it’s now being adopted as a way of life. So I agree with you, but offline mode has also its advantages. Thank you, Eunice for your thoughtful comment 😊

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  8. Derek and I have worked from home for years, but my kids and their spouses have adjusted to working from home. It has been an interesting journey to watch. Now they only commute in to work once a week. Take care.

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    1. I think in days to come, WFH will be a way of life. Covid came as a challenge that gave an opportunity to go for an alternative. Let’s see how the thing unfold further. Thank you for sharing your thoughts 😊

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  11. Work from home has given many families a chance to reset priorities that were based on accommodating long commutes. Things are slowly getting back – in some cases to hybrid work – and I hope the memory of what it feels like to have time for family stays and puts pressure on organizations to create a work life that supports child care and care for elderly.

    I have taught many lonely children over the years, and have seen some student families where the busy was being normalized. Thinking in some cases needs to change, because parenting is a two person job. And out-sourcing parenting by over-scheduling a child’s routine because parents don’t have time for their kids has a bad impact on learning.

    I wrote on it in an old post at my piano teaching blog https://anitaelise.com/2015/03/27/coping-with-the-overscheduled-child-in-piano-class/

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    1. I read your blog and followed it too. I am in total agreement with you that parenting is a different ballgame. WFH has changed both the work dynamics and learning experience. Thank you so much Anita ji for such a brilliant response. Much appreciated 😊

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      1. This topic is so important. Up until now, much of the struggle for work-life balance has come from women with careers – many bearing the full responsibility for child and elder care and for running the home.

        It’s time all men realized and experienced the personal journey and lesson in values that come from care and joined women in demanding work-life balance from their companies. Some do, but many don’t.

        Some men don’t even have a clue what caring for others entails and in a few cases this leads to expectations that make them angry. I have worked with student families for many years and see this impacting the quality of time women spend with their kids.

        We all learn so much about ourselves from spending time with our parents, and it’s a very sad society and work-culture that deprives men of this opportunity for growth with long working hours and a fear that taking leave is a risk of being replaced.

        Organizations need to have these discussions, so I’m glad you’ve raised this topic.

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      2. Most of the high achievers who love their work AND can find a quiet space at home, are happy with work from home and are equally happy with hybrid work, as they can get more done. For many of them going to the office daily means less achievement and more wasted time in meetings that don’t go anywhere and waste everyones time.

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      3. Very well said, Anita ji. Thank you for touching such complex issues. I concur with you. WFH is beneficial for all concerned right from saving cost and time on conveyance and also cost of office infrastructure. Even meetings and interviews can be held effectively using apps like zoom and google meet.

        As regards work-life balance, I think it’s individual preferences to climb the ladder by working really hard or simply by buttering the bosses. It becomes like an intoxication, and then nothing works. I have seen in a number of cases, bosses don’t insist for late sitting, but some officers do it on their own. I came across an officer who was not happy with his wife and family, and preferred to spend time outside either in the office or cafetaria.

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      4. Yes what you say about individual preferences is true sometimes. I’ve seen corporate cultures where sitting late is considered an achievement. And also seen a time when there was one director who felt sitting late was a sign of inefficiency and inability to schedule work during working hours well and it stopped sitting late to a very large extent. Might even have forced unhappy spouses to go home and work on their marriages and sort out problems or look for permanent solutions rather than hiding ha ha!

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      5. You’re right. I had two bosses like one you have mentioned, but even then, some of the officers used to sit late, if not for office work, for personal work too. Old habit dies hard.

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      6. Yes 🙂 Had one boss like this too and am grateful. That’s what made me switch careers and teach piano lessons. Nothing like being one’s own boss and having a career and time for family.

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