As the government last week announced people will again be encouraged to go back to the workplace in a ad campaign starting next week and more and more businesses return to what is being called the ‘new normal’ and consider a return to a physical office from remote working, what are the pros and cons for your workforce?
The BBC News states; Employers will be asked to reassure staff it is safe to return by highlighting measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Business leaders have warned of damage being done to city centres as people stay away from offices and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said some things were “impossible” to do remotely. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he cared more about how employees performed than where they were working. Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are still advising people to work from home if possible.
Meanwhile, nine in 10 UK employees who have worked from home during lockdown would like to continue in some form, according to a survey. The research by academics at Cardiff and Southampton universities – which involved thousands of people between April and June – suggests the majority of people working from home are as productive, if not more.
There are however benefits from working from home that have been brought to light during lockdown. These include;
- A flexible schedule
- A custom environment
- No uniforms
- It’s easier to make calls
- No office distractions
- Zero commuting
- Save money
However, it is not easy for managers to monitor their staffs’ progress and performance without them being in the same office space. This is especially escalated if the job role requires a lot of “background duties” that can’t be monitored on a work’s system. There can also be a decrease in staff integration – working from home can mean that you get involved with the rest of the team less.
What are your thoughts? Do you prefer the office environment? Or had working from home benefitted what you do?
