The Downsides of Prolonged WFH

Many have suggested that the company should focus only on meeting business objectives rather than on the physical presence of employees. Further, they argue that simply having knowledge workers come in doesn't guarantee more productivity etc. I urge them to reflect more on the pitfalls of doing WFH for extended periods.

Consider WFH more as a perk, much like having a free cookie jar in the office—something to be indulged in carefully and in moderation.  Or it could lead to undesirable outcomes.         

Let's say, OfficeNinja is someone who mainly works from the office, whereas a Homie is someone who primarily works from home. Following are the pitfalls that Homies should watch out for:

• Health: By design, OfficeNinjas walk more steps thanks to the office layout and have a designated desk setup. On the contrary, Homies often become couch potatoes and lack a proper desk; leading to unhealthy postures & eating habits
• Distractions: The home environment is usually full of distractions making it harder to focus: Streaming Services, Household Chores, Pets, Noise from Neighbourhood or Traffic etc. There could be interruptions from family members. All this has an impact on work quality & velocity. I highly recommend reading Change Anything by Kerry Patterson. It explains why willpower alone isn't enough and how six sources of influence can work for or against you. Offers practical advice on how to leverage them to achieve your goals. One simple tip is to make it harder to access things that have a negative influence on you
• Loosing Family time: WFH often blurs the line between work and personal life. Additionally, to make up for the lost time due to distractions, Homies end up working late in the evening; unintentionally sacrificing valuable family time
• Organization awareness: Informal hallway conversations with peers and leaders are a great way to build organizational level awareness and foster team camaraderie—an experience that Homies miss out on
• Career Growth: Keep in mind the adage, "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." Staying visible to others (especially leaders) is crucial, even when they aren't actively seeking something from you. Being in office creates opportunities to connect with colleagues from different teams and roles, broadening your career path

Reflect & Act Wisely.