Work From Home Benefits and Challenges
The arrival of the coronavirus and its manifestation in various forms has introduced a paradigm shift in employee-employer relations. The jury is out regarding the pros and cons of work-from-home (WFH)/ remote capabilities. The singular cause of work being done productively is continuously being researched at the C-suite levels of big organisations.
Employees are now adjusting to the new work ethic of committing to household chores and inducing high efficacy in their professional life thanks to the more quantum of time available through WFH. However, many consider remote work to be a mixed bag as it leads to loss of human contact, and there are cases where the employees need to find an incentive to upskill themselves.
Adaptation to WFH culture has been focused on increasing individual productivity in a world that is getting more globalised and interconnected thanks to the advancement of AI chatbots. Did you know that the latest ChatGP software can assess the organisational benefits of each employee and can manifest their annual confidential assessments?
This article is about the delicate balance between the advantages and disadvantages of WFH culture for both employees and employers.
Top 4 Benefits of WFH for Employees
Listed below are the benefits that employees gain in a WFH setup:
Extra expenses are curtailed
Travelling costs are reduced, generating more value for food consumption and purchasing life-changing books. The petrol prices are skyrocketed, and with the incidence of WFH culture, the ancillary costs on toll fees and amounts spent on office cafeterias are reduced to a great extent.
Elimination of commute time
Energy drain is the leading cause of burnout among mid-level employees. Did you know the average Mumbaikar spends two hours commuting to their workplace? Imagine the social costs of such lengthy journeys. WFH relieves the employee of making arduous commute journeys, thus helping in spending more time with spouse and kids.
The availability of more time during WFH increases the efficacy of the work being done. The elimination of time wastage ensures a good balance between work and life.
Enhanced communication
Offline handling of office communication is riddled with the egoistic interpretation of one’s self-worth. The problem with face-to-face communication is that employees tend to misinterpret subtle facial expressions, which can reinforce mistrust and dishonest workplace behaviour, thus leading to suboptimal outcomes.
By using technological means in WFH, the entire communication mechanism is imbued with professionalism and clears the path for achieving mutual goals in the desired way.
Productivity peaks
The modern office distractions, including friendly banter and trips to the coffee vending machine, are eliminated with WFH. Did you know the GenZ employee finds solace in the quieter ambience and helps in the rapid completion of work peacefully? Time management is the key when one has plans to ascend the career ladder, and this is accomplished beautifully using the various virtues of remote work.
Top 3 Challenges for Employees in the WFH Scenario
Absence of human contact
Friends and colleagues form the first line of defence when addressing the mind’s dark matters. The Covid pandemic has played havoc in terms of the psychological health of employees. This invisible disease is leading to the incidence of anxiety and depression even among healthy and hearty employees.
The feelings of isolation and loneliness are exacerbated when there is no need for human contact in the WFH scenario. The dark recesses of the mind can be unbearable for sensitive employees, which can be addressed by using video calls and chatting regularly.
Interruption in work-life balance
Office work introduced a clear demarcation between office and personal life. When the man comes home after hanging up the coat in the dining room, his mind automatically switches to family time. But in the case of WFH, the neural connections related to the working brain never go to rest and are constantly working up new strategies.
This can lead to early burnout and resentment in the family. Employees should avoid work-related emails and phone calls after a designated hour. Even national governments such as France are taking measures that employers should not send office emails after 6 PM.
Hazards of early professional burnout
Many employees of the modern generation in the new WFH ecosystem need to take adequate leaves. This is not an advantage for employers as such practices can lead to loss of skills, and the organisational goals will be severely affected. Feelings of anxiety will permeate when employees do not take leaves. To maintain stability, companies must regularly ensure that employees are treated to meditation techniques and sabbaticals.
Final thoughts
Work From Home is a double-edged sword that can work wonders or spell trouble depending on the varying perspective of both employers and employees. One thing is sure: the Covid pandemic’s incidence has made remote work an accepted reality in the Global corporate structure. It is up to the stakeholders to find ways to spell mutual benefits for employees and employers.
