The pandemic changed the job market more than we could imagine. A lot of companies converted to remote work. However, when the quarantine measures started to ease, a great number of employees declined to return to their regular work schedules.
It became necessary for many businesses to allow the people to work from home since it remained as only way to keep the companies working. However, the situation with the pandemic is getting under control, and we are able to live without any restrictions again. That means that people could come back to offices.
Still, we can notice that their habits have changed as well, and many people are requesting to continue working from home. The main reason is related to the benefits that working from home provide.
More Leisure Time
One of the most obvious reasons is more free time at hand. And, of course, this free time could be spent on awesome video games. If you are, like thousands of other people, struggling with the question “What should I play next?” check out the Insider.Games website. Here you will find news about new releases, overviews of renowned classics, and online gaming tournaments. You will surely find the game meant for you here. Still, comfortable leisure is only one of the reasons for workers to stay home.
Even if you are using some software while working, which will monitor your actions and keep the record of your activity, which means that you won’t be able to enjoy in movies, TV shows, and video games during the regular 8 hours’ shift, the time saving aspect is still related to going to and back from the work. Depending on the distance, some people are losing more than two hours every day on their way to the office and back home.
For some people, these extra two hours could make the life much easier. For example, if you have small kids, it will be easier to comply to their needs, get them to school, buy groceries, clean the house, and still have enough time to finish your 8-hour shift without any problems. On the other side, spending too much time in transportation every day will lead to exhaustion.
Control Over the Work Process
The general reason why workers resist returning to the office is more control over their workspace and work time. Home setups are more comfortable and personally customized for workers than their office counterparts. Work in a comfortable environment increases efficiency and makes it easier to complete given tasks.
Another reason is the socialization and ambiguity of corporate culture. From the employees’ position, corporate culture is no more than an excuse for the extreme overseeing of the work process. Moreover, constant presence within the team may feel energy-consuming for a lot of workers. Staying secluded while working at home feels more natural for people.
Besides, working from home saves a lot of time and road money. Working from home gives employees more time for their morning routine in exchange for time in traffic jams or subways. That results in more work time spent efficiently, more time for the employee’s families, and more time for leisure. Overall, remote work makes the process more democratic: people decide how and when they will work.
When it comes to the most recent trends, companies that allows people to work from home don’t even demand to have a full 8-hour shift anymore. They are focusing on the projects and results. For example, if you are working as graphic designer, you will be provided with a deadline, and there is no reason for anyone to monitor you and check how much time you spend every day while working.
Alternative View
Still, despite being beneficial in many aspects, remote work has downsides as well. For January 2024, 39% of US workers would like to return to the office environment. Despite the preference of the majority to work remotely, 39% is still a considerable number.
People may treat the corporate culture as annoying, but it provides a broad picture of the company’s values. Besides, work within the collective provides the necessary support, advice, and any kind of help required. New employees have great opportunities to learn while they are within the working collective.
Finally, it is recommended not to mix workplace and resting place. It is a psychological factor that helps to attune the whole body and mind for a certain process. A place dedicated to work and a place dedicated to resting make it easier to do these things efficiently. Combining the place of work and rest may have negative outcomes and spoil both of these activities.
The main reason why there are still so many companies that requires from their workers to work from offices is related to efficiency. It is proven that certain businesses line finance, banking, statistics, and many others can be much more productive when workers are all in the same area. It will be easier for executives to control the main processes, while workers will find motivation and help when needed.
Prerequisites For Future Changes
Despite such controversies around the subject of remote work, it changed the way people approach the working environment drastically. Even when the quarantine measures would be lifted completely, companies would have to adapt to the new working realities. At the moment, some companies suggest a hybrid schedule with three working days at the office and two remote days. It is only one of the possible alternatives, but it indicates the vector in which the job market would develop in the upcoming couple of years.
Such adaptation is a necessity for successful business handling. Today’s refusal to return to the office is a prerequisite for the changes in the working environment. Many employees prefer to leave their workplaces and search for new positions instead of returning to full-time office work.
We can expect that even more companies will switch to this model in the future. There is no need to sit in the office in front of the PC when you can do the same while being at home. The communication with management and executives is also not a problem because people can use modern online services for communication and exchange of information all the time.
Therefore, it seems like the whole market and habits will change over time even more. Only those people who are working in production lines, construction workers, and other types of jobs where people had to be physically involved will remain in standard forms.
Also, we have to mention the rise in popularity of freelancing. This is a very popular model of working today, where people with certain skills could work only on short-term projects for various companies and individuals. Both businesses and workers can have benefits from this option.
For instance, if you need a new website for your business, or you want to improve some software, security, or any other thing related to digital technologies, there is no need to hire a developer on a long-term deal when you can find one and pay only for one project. On the other side, workers are free to decide where they will work and for how long.
