Working From Home: Will it Last?
All around the country, and the world, people have been working from home. This year, 2020, the Year of the Pandemic.
Some have embraced this new experience, some have loathed it, some have grudgingly been dragged into a new era of digital competency they never expected or wanted.
The concept of working from home, or telecommuting, has been around for decades, but it has gained significant traction in recent years with the rise of the gig economy and the proliferation of technology that enables remote work. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies were forced to implement remote work policies in order to protect their employees and comply with government guidelines.
As a result, working from home has become the norm for many people, and it is likely that it will continue to be a viable option for at least some portion of the workforce going forward. However, it is important to note that working from home is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it may not be sustainable for all employees or companies.
The question remains, with life returning to Covid-normal in Victoria, will working from home continue? Here is a quick breakdown of some of the pros and cons of working from home.
“Never Too Small” - Whisker Architecture Project
WFH Pros
No commutes gives everybody time back in their day and removes a possible stressor.
For some, home is a quieter space, allowing for more focussed work and greater efficiency.
Meetings have become increasingly digital, removing travel time between meetings and enabling people to be more efficient with their time.
Many employees prefer working from home.
As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, removing commutes saves tonnes of greenhouse emissions.
Normalising flexible work practices creates a more egalitarian workplace, helping keep women and carers in the workforce.
Dispersal of many workers outside of major cities may relieve the current infrastructure stresses of increased urbanisation.
Migration of city workers to regional towns boosts the economies of these areas.
WFH Cons
No commute removes the psychological transition between “Home” and “Work”, letting one or the other take over.
For some, home is chaotic, often featuring small children and an inability to concentrate.
Digital meetings has led to “Zoom-fatigue” or video conference burnout due to more meetings and a lack of thinking space allocated in between.
Many managers struggle with working from home because their management style has evolved to be very face-to-face and visual.
Junior staff and new staff in organisations will find onboarding, learning, and integrating culturally in a workforce that meets purely online.
Relocation of significant workforces can affect the local economy of the area being left. I’m not an economist but this (American) article breaks down some possible outcomes.
“Saltbush Retreat” - Whisker Architecture Project
Overall, it is likely that working from home will continue to be a viable option for many people, but it may not be the best solution for everyone. Companies should carefully evaluate the needs and preferences of their employees in order to determine the most effective approach to remote work.
So what’s next? Personally, I think that although we’ve made great leaps in the past 9 months in our digital skills and capacity to work at home it will not work for everybody. Those who will benefit most may find themselves sucked into the office to support those who need to be there.
Undeniably, flexible work practices are here to stay though. Employees have seen it work and more workers, especially the increasingly digital-generations, will vote with their feet and their knowledge by moving to companies that support their lifestyle-choices. Companies will be forced to provide flexible options in order to attract and retain talent.
One thing I’m keen to see is if this overall increase in work life flexibility changes the social dynamics in workplaces - allowing people to move work hours around family commitments for a more balanced and equitable lifestyle.
What does Working From Home mean for the Built Environment?
Offices will not die. We still benefit physiologically from a face-to-face conversation but we don’t need them every day.
Offices will get smaller. Offices won’t need to accommodate the entire company every day. Depending on the office it may be at 40% capacity with a 10% flex.
Offices will become more dispersed. Why have one office of 200 people in the middle of a busy CBD when you could have two offices with capacities of 50 people in more affordable and accessible locations?
Home offices and workshare offices will thrive. If your workforce isn't in your office, where are they?
Mobile devices and public charging stations will become even more the norm and we’ll be investing much more heavily in mobile reception (including 5G and eventually Elon Musk’s Starlink), high-speed wi-fi, and longer life batteries. People have experienced the freedom of being unchained from walls by power and CAT cables and are demanding more mobility.
Without a strong driving force habits change slowly but here at Whisker Architecture we’re expecting many more home extensions and renovations integrating home offices, and many more office fitouts to accommodate shrinking attendees and updated hygiene protocols.
