Pros and cons of working from home
Some of the negative aspects of work from home during the pandemic identified in the report include:
- Blurring of boundaries (working longer hours and on weekends), invasion of privacy (using webcam and private phone for work), and work impinging on caregiver responsibilities
- Both managers and non-managers reported exhaustion associated with increased working hours and long periods of work without taking leave
- Negative physical health outcomes such as increased musculoskeletal pain and weight gain
- A decrease in productivity, due to negative mental well-being effects of work from home
- A feeling of isolation and disconnect from work, particularly for those living alone in lockdown who could not socialize
- Negative financial impact for employees resulting from increased utility bills and purchase of additional equipment
Positives included:
- Improved work-life interaction, particularly for employees that were not in mandatory lockdown situations—including flexibility to accommodate parenting responsibilities,
- Improved access to networking and professional development opportunities through online conferences and seminars that were previously inaccessible due to overseas locations
- Increased team bonding due to online meetings, which provided insight into private lives of employees
- The introduction of online communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom resulted in improved communication within teams and between departments, as well as cross business collaboration
- Productivity increase—due to staff working longer days and not being distracted in the office—contributed to the positive financial impact for employer organizations
However the study found that effective workplace-initiated strategies to optimize work from home included management support of flexible work hours; provision of necessary equipment with ICT support; regular online communication; performance management adjustments; and manager training.
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