Working from Home - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Working from home is not a new concept.  Prior to the pandemic, working from home was a perk or a way to save on rent of office space. Many companies had contingency plans in place and had even ran simulations “just in case”.  However, many have recently been thrust into working from home as a necessary precaution against the spread of COVID-19.  According to Stats Canada by the end of March approximately 40% of the workforce was working remotely in Canada. Of course, many industries do not have this option; front line workers, service providers, construction and manufacturing for example.  However, for those that have the option, here’s a few things to think about.

The Good
At face value, many would consider working from home ideal.  Foregoing the commute alone would be a huge incentive for many. With the additional time, many might choose to sleep in, exercise, read or fit in otherwise neglected tasks. If the work at home scenario involves flexible hours, people have more freedom to book appointments and run errands.  If child care is a factor, perhaps being available for your kids during the day is a priority, but having the ability to work at night is a plus.  Office environments stereotypically involve distractions, whether a chatty co-worker, an impromptu phone call or meeting. Often what was on a to do list for the day gets over run.  Working from home can provide the ability to focus and execute without distractions and interruptions. The comfort factor can also be considered, working in the location of your choosing with the clothing of your choosing.

The Bad
It’s not all sunshine and roses, however.  Many will miss the social connection of an office environment.  Dialoguing and sharing ideas, stories and experiences often feeds into better work.  Video conferencing is a great tool, however much of the nuance of in person interaction is lost.  Depending on your work schedule, the time lost between responding to emails and trying to work with other’s schedules can reduce productivity and efficiency.  If you have children at home the need to care for them and even help with their school work poses an added difficulty in the work from home scenario.  It might also prove to be hard to separate your work time from your personal time.

The Ugly
By now we have all likely seen plenty of people doing video conferencing half dressed (professional on top, who knows on the bottom?) or people in online meetings doing unmentionable things (going to the bathroom!) Kids walking in on the video call or yelling in the background.  It might be comical, but technical difficulties, personal foibles and family dynamics can prove to be a real challenge.

All things considered, working from home for many has been a boon and they would like to keep the option at least part of the time going forward.  As things continue to change and we anticipate what the “new normal” will be, working from home will likely be a realistic and preferable scenario.  The challenge to employers and employees will be to adapt, be innovative, be flexible and stay connected.