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Work from home (WFH) or work from office? A point of contention that many are still discussing to this day about its implementation and its value added benefits to the working force. Being someone who has gone through both working arrangements and is now permanently back to the office, I think its time I shared my thoughts regarding this and illuminate on what worked and what didn’t for me.
Work from Home VS Work from Office: Flexibility
One of the most touted benefits of WFH is flexibility. During the first few weeks of WFH I genuinely felt like it was the best kind of working arrangement. All my preferences were basically met, I could use my much superior home hardware (5600X + 6800XT) which meant work was more calming and easy to do without the frequent stutters and slow response time of corporate sponsored hardware.
Not only that, it allowed me to be more present around the house and I managed to assist in the daily on-goings at home during those moments where I would be at the office instead. During this time I was satisfied with my job as a better work-life balance was struck.
However, though my experience was ultimately positive, I have also seen what too much flexibility can do to a workforce and partially justifies the notions of those who oppose the idea of WFH. Back then, some of my colleagues tend to slack off, delay work as there was no supervision as well as going completely dark during working hours which made it difficult from time to time.
Work from Home VS Work from Office: Commute Elimination
One thing I definitely missed during the WFH days is the fact that I did not have to chase down the public transports and cram myself into the carriages alongside fellow commuters like canned sardines! The fact that I did not have to spend about an hour or so in the work commute made me feel like my time was more appreciated and I could allocate it to better activities such as waking up slightly less earlier than I normally do now.
Not only that, the additional time saved allowed me to get a head start on some of the work I was doing at that current time. This resulted in me being more productive efficient and focused. I was able to achieve at home a much greater output due to deeper sense of control over my environment that allowed me to carry on my tasks with 0 distractions.
Work from Home VS Work from Office: Closer collaboration
Of course returning to the office does have its own benefits. One such advantage is the spontaneous collaboration and creativity brainstorming that is almost impossible to replicate in a remote setting. Bouncing ideas off colleagues face-to-face does lead to better output and stronger team spirit.
Not only that, the office serves as a hub for social interaction, fostering camaraderie and a sense of belonging among colleagues. Team lunches, and after-work drinks are integral components of company culture and it definitely helps with the work process flow when everyone knows each other especially in a creative setting.
Hybrid Approach – the solution?
All in all, I believe a hybrid approach is the best course of action to take as it satisfies both camps needs. The covid days proved that WFH is a viable arrangement for most businesses. Hopefully mega-corporations catch on to this trend and modernize working arrangements for a better and healthier workforce as we are not machines!
Upper management should be more open and listen to the needs of the subordinates while subordinates need to communicate the benefits clearly and precisely to ensure that both parties are in accord.