WFH — How long will it work for?

Many of us are convinced that post covid, most people will like to work from home because it is convenient for us. We also believe that it suits companies too because they are not only getting work done with the help of digital technologies, but are saving big time on real estate and other costs incurred on running an office. This might be a very simplistic view & forecast. Some behavioral scientists believe that man is a social animal, thus connection, trust, and belonging are in the human DNA, and therefore pretty much everyone will go back to the office eventually — and that this  will be in the employees' interest. 

Here is what John Levy, a behavioral scientist and author of “You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence”, thinks:

The High Price of Convenience: It is Levy's belief that working from home can be too convenient, and can cause more harm than good, in the long run. Things that are convenient aren’t necessarily good for us. While it is very convenient to not get up early in the morning, shave, change, have breakfast and commute to work, it does not mean that it's good for our physical & mental health. Levy says that "having some commuting time, whether it’s walking, driving or taking the bus, gives us an opportunity to let our minds wander and explore ideas. In these moments, you replay conversations from the day. Maybe you plan your discussion with your boss about a raise. You have time to process. Office life forces transitions and breaks throughout the day, as people shift between meeting rooms, desks, meals, and coffee". What the office environment does almost naturally to make you strong in terms of adjusting and adapting (physically, mentally and emotionally), a remote working environment might lead you to miss out on the same body and personality building opportunity.

Being Social for a Long, Healthy Life: It's now almost proven beyond doubt that longevity also depends on how social we are. Oxytocin level (an important hormone that is released during moments of togetherness such as hugging) in human beings, also increases when we enjoy or do something in a group. Levy argues that "we humans are not designed to be alone.  Our species evolved in communities, and we survived because we worked together. The companies that create the greatest sense of belonging are the ones where people stay on for years. It is hard to create a sense of community and a culture of belonging from a distance".

The Distance Factor: Levy's belief on 'people will go back to office' stems from a MIT study done in the 1970s that showed that communication between people in an office increased exponentially the closer their desks were. If they were about 50 meters apart, they almost had no idea about what the other person was doing. Today, when we are working together via email, and Zoom, Skype, Go to Meeting, WebEx etc, we are meeting customers and colleagues only in the video meetings, and after that it's almost like 'out of sight, out of mind'.  The fact is that the more often we see someone face-to-face, meet her personally, the more likely it is that we will also telephone that person or communicate with her. Another survey done very recently, by an independent HR consultant recently showed that remote work is okay for freelancers hired for a specific job or for a salesperson in the field. The finding also highlights that in a hybrid office, working from home can have serious implications for being recognized & appreciated and getting bonuses & promotions.

An Honest Confession:  I must admit that while I am 'evaluating' whether to start going to the office or not, and if yes, then how frequently, I have now resumed going out to meet friends, shop, eat at restaurants, and even use public transport. I am not sure, therefore, for how long I will not resume office!

All said and done, working from home as well as hybrid work is the new normal which people have embraced quite easily. Advantages are numerous — work life flexibility and balance, no commute time wastage, higher productivity, and reduced operational costs — and significant. In fact, I believe that the hybrid work model will be a chance for employers to redefine working hours and office spaces for fostering critical elements of an organization, such as collaboration & creativity.