Work from Home: Looking at the Long-term Impact of New Work Trends

Before the onset of Covid-19, working from home was a privilege entitled to the high-ranking officials in service provision companies. However, the start of the pandemic in 2019 affected the working model for business across the globe. Most nation’s implemented travel restrictions, which made it difficult for employees to commute to work. The government guidelines to maintain social distance to prevent infection spread also necessitated companies to reduce their office workers. In light of the developments, firms deployed technology, enabling most workers to execute their roles remotely. The move has halted face-to-face interactions with emails and Zoom meetings taking over as the channel of communication. Although working from home arrangements have led to a decrease in social interaction among the employees, the work model presents various benefits for the organization in the long term, as outlined.

Better Employee Satisfaction

The human factor is the most incredible resource for any organization. Thus, businesses should provide employees with a conducive work environment to maintain a stable physical and mental well-being. Most of the employees stay far away from job location due to the high cost of living in cities. Consequently, workers are forced to commute long distances and are affected by delays and traffic. The employees’ failure to reach work in time could cause commotion with their seniors, affecting their emotional well-being. Working from home means employees do not have to fight to secure a seat on the bus. Besides, it minimizes workplace conflict with other colleagues. Working from home also offers employees a conducive work environment to perform their roles. Therefore, employees working from home exhibit better job satisfaction, which prevents the company from losing talents. In the future, companies that allow employees to work remotely will attract and retain better talents.

Improved Productivity

Many organization continues to record an increase in their productivity since adopting a working from the home approach. When employees work remotely, they are less affected by the distractions present while working from a central office. Besides, working from home enables the employees to plan their schedules and stick to them. The lack of immediate supervision also means that employees undertake their roles without fear that they are under watch, making them perform their functions to the best of their ability, which leads to increased individual performance. Furthermore, when people work remotely, there is no time wasted in commuting. Therefore, the employees use the commuting time to contribute to organizational productivity. Overall, most organizations have achieved higher productivity since allowing their employees to work remotely.

Cost Saving

Working from home has created potential cost-saving opportunities for both the employees and the businesses. Most employees working from home are saving on fuel, bus, and train tickets. Besides, the workers are saving on the cost they incur in purchasing clothing for work and hiring domestic workers as they can perform most of their laundry and cleaning work after completing their daily workload. Working remotely also means that employees are saving on purchasing coffee and lunch from the cafeteria as they can prepare them at home. On the other hand, working from home saves the business amount incurred on utilities, such as electricity, water, internet, and maintenance. If the business transition to permanent remote work, it will save on high rental charges every year.

The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the workplaces, and switching to remote work could become a future for many organizations. Although working from home eliminates the element of socialization and collaboration present in a central office, the use of zoom to hold meetings is becoming a norm for most organizations. Various organizations have proposed closing their branches permanently and maintaining headquarters only for marketing, training, and recruitment purposes. Working from home presents the benefit of increased employee satisfaction, improved productivity, and cost-saving in the long-run management of the business. Therefore, more companies should align their operation to allow their employees to work remotely to enjoy these benefits. So, the next time you are looking at free online appointment scheduling, take a look back at how things have changed over the last 18 months.