I was thinking about one question I see lately on LinkedIn: what the work environment will look like after the pandemic? Home working full-time? Back to the office full-time? Or a mix of these two?
Before the pandemic there was an increase in home working policies. But COVID-19 pandemic forced companies to cope with a completely new reality. For some, the dream came true: full-time home working! But after so many months of home working, is this what companies and humans really need?
Home working on a full-time basis brings in some advantages for sure, but it comes also with a sort of isolation. Humans are by definition social beings. From the earliest times, our strength was our capacity to gather in big herds for hunting. “Isolating” ourselves in home working is not our true nature.
On the other hand, office working model was getting to its limits before pandemic. With global continuous change, work environment has to evolve and to adapt to people’s life.
But let’s take a look at the pros I see for each model.
Home working model:
Independence from a specific office location. Having to come daily in a specific location restrain the company’s pool of candidates and increase turnover on long term. Home working offers an opportunity to reach out to a bigger pool of candidates and it participates directly to the development of the company on the long term.
Balanced work-life time. The companies need engaged and focused people to achieve objectives. When spending hours daily commuting, chronical exhaustion can install. The loss of focus on professional life follows. Home working offers the flexibility we needed.
Better productivity. In open spaces and big offices people complain about being often interrupted or having difficulties in focusing on the task. It’s pretty difficult to accommodate everyone’s needs in big spaces. Hence less productivity for activities that need quieter environments. At home, people can organize their working environment as they need it.
Budget savings. Less transportation, less meals out and less unexpected expenses come with money savings. With the same revenue people will have a better life quality, being able to spend more in hobbies and activities for self.
Office working model:
Onboarding processes. Welcoming a new member in the team is not only about transferring a know-how, some work processes, some numbers etc. It comes with understanding the values, the culture of the company. Of course, we can talk online about all these, but one should experience it on a daily basis, should map out on his own, should see people’s reactions accordingly to their company values in face to face activities. This is easier in the office working model.
Staff development and trainings for younger members. How would we be able to train new skills, communication, behaviors, etc. if the trainee is not able to see live examples? On the job training and working next to your colleague is an important part of achieving new skills. We learn a lot just by observing our more senior peers.
Team spirit. Productivity is higher in teams that work well together and feel like a “big family”. But how could we nurture this value if we are not together? We build team spirit during an unplanned 5 minutes break, when we discover common interests and affinities, or during an unplanned 5@7 drink.
Mental health and the wellbeing of the person. In order to achieve the targets a company needs healthy individuals. For those who have difficulties in finding a home working routine, a good work-life balance, the motivation to cook a healthy meal or to exercise, home working is a struggle, with a direct impact on their productivity, concentration level and in more difficult cases can transform in depression or burnout. Having to follow an external life rhythm may help these individuals, keeping them on track.
These are just some advantages for each model, bringing with them also the limitations. For me, shifting to a mixed model seems a good choice. Spending time with teams in the office is important, but having the flexibility of home working is also important.
But what would be the best ratio in between home and office working? When answering this question we need to consider that we, as humans, we are all wired differently. What is good for me, is not necessarily good for my colleague. Then why not listening what people need and what is best for them, keeping in mind the company's objectives?
A model where all the team gather in the office a specific day, altering the office and home working days, accordingly to each individual needs and job requirements, seems a good mix.
This pandemic was new to all of us and came with important changes in our work and life habits. But in the same time it opened new opportunities. Let’s focus on the advantages of each model and explore how this change can improve our lives.
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