Will ‘work from home’ supplant ‘work from office’?

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the economy in more ways than one, including the way in which business and life as we know it is conducted. In an effort to stay buoyant, every organization has enabled a wealth of mitigatory measures including adopting the virtual approach in the least disruptive manner, said Arshdeep Sethi, Managing Director, Executive Board, RMZ Corp.

Recent research by SCIKEY MindMatch, reveals that about 99.8% of the workforce in the Information Technology sector is incapable of working from home and a meagre 0.2 % is 'working from home' productively.

As the home environment is not designed to be the replica of the work environment, there are unique challenges in terms of identifying a workstation or conducting work without distractions. Furthermore, productivity and focus are far more challenging for employees who are staying in small paying guest or co-living developments owing to the complexities of the shared space.

The office environment is one that will also nurture a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie for employees, thereby having a positive impact on productivity. Although Work from Home offers relief from commute, businesses can be more efficiently run in a demarcated office setup. This will enable the CRE fraternity to find a bridge between the workspace and the work-from-home space. The demarcated office setup can help improve talent management and the collaborative work experience among other concerns.
Maintaining Data Protection

Data security, during Covid-19 poses a major concern as people working from home are exposed to social engineering and phishing risks and are more likely to use potentially vulnerable services, thus jeopardising the integrity of both the individual and the organization. Data confidentiality is another impeding factor as many firms have client-related restrictions to avail work from home.

Relooking Employee Wellness
Research reveals that prolonged duration of working remotely without socializing can adversely impact the mental wellbeing of employees. The result not only originated from minimum social exposure but also from an obscure definition of working hours in which employees feel like they are working for extended periods. A framework needs to be developed wherein employees are amply supported such to incorporate physical activity, meditation and creative activities in the interest of wellness

Fostering Innovation
With the pace of business changing the way it has, organizations are focused on reinventing themselves continuously. In the workplace, we typically have greater access to technology, interactions with our fellow colleagues, subordinates and a stronger cultural connection—all of which make innovation easier and drive the business forward.

As physical distancing will become the new norm, the workforce will demand greater safety and hygiene. The CRE space has the responsibility to maintain strong workplace hygiene mechanisms and screening protocols which will provide a safer environment to work in. With de-densification, smarter design and anti-microbial technology the future of office space will usher in something more organic and smart: an entity that is less structured and more focused on employee well-being as it gives people space to get away, collaborate, meet and socialize.