Work from home forever

Context: The positives behind adapting to Work from Home (WFH) environment are many. There is a need to examine the future of work.

Opportunities in WFH :

• Sustained inter-personal relationships: Major dealing around the world are still happening amidst the pandemic. 

• This suggests that much of the work is dependent on trust and personal acquaintance. 

• Maintaining distance: It has been argued that closer the deal makers are, the less is imaginative thinking rewarded. Thus, physical distancing actually helps in positive dealings.
• Productivity: Executives skeptical about productivity of work-from-home productivity will be forced to adjust their expectations
• Fall of Skyscrapers: dangers associated with aerosolized viruses in elevators and A.Cs. Safety measures and physical distancing will lead to its demise.
• Options available: “make remote work a permanent option for roles that allow it”, and “accelerate automation and new ways of working”.

Implications

• Many jobs can be effectively performed in peace and quiet environment remotely.
• Conversations that can be entrusted to secure communications channels will no longer need to be face to face.
• Offices will be sparer and include more private space.

Downside of WFH as a norm:

• Demise of real estate: Due to labour crunch and less demand of commercial buildings will lead to the already deteriorating health of real estate.
• Increase in call timings: Employees may be expected to be on call at almost all times.

Way Forward :

• Big businesses will have to decide the future course of action as small business are nor equipped enough to take any experiments, and governments have too much on their plate to deal with.