Why the office is here to stay
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, employees have proved that they can juggle job tasks and virtual meetings while homeschooling their children. However, there have been drawbacks to this workplace reinvention.
Social creatures need social connection
Social connection is an important part of being human. Even as we practice social distancing, we find ways to virtually engage with colleagues. It’s no surprise, then, that one of the greatest benefits of the office is human interaction. Working side-by-side with colleagues encourages people to brainstorm, innovate or simply wave to a friend during lunch. A lack of connection, on the other hand, has a detrimental effect on health and wellbeing. Research shows that people are having difficulties adjusting to working from home. The longer workers stay home, the more likely they are to suffer from mental health challenges.
Sense of common ground
Throughout history, people have gathered in communities and to observe special events. An office provides workers with that same sense of community and shared purpose. Virtual meetings and emails don’t have the energising effect of in-person collaboration. In fact, a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that 65 per cent of companies state that working from home has been detrimental to employee morale.
Movement and Variety
Working at home does not provide the variety your brain craves. When you eat, sleep, work and socialise from home, you can become bored. Researchers have found that physical movement helps the brain think and learn. Working from home can result in a decrease in physical activity. For example, you may not change physical positions or postures while working at home as often as you might at the office.
A change of scene from home to the office provides visual cues that you are in “work mode.” If you can associate a conversation with a landmark — such as an atrium or hallway — you are more likely to remember what was said.
Boundaries and engagement
One of the greatest challenges of working from home is setting healthy boundaries. It has long been the goal of employees to find a work-life balance and to keep work separate from home life. At the office, you can focus on work. At home, you can spend quality time with your family. Working from home brings distractions that are not present at the office. A study suggests that women may be especially impacted by distractions and demands of working at home. A lack of boundaries reduces engagement and interferes with adherence to company policies. For example, research shows that people who work from home are more distracted by multitasking or side hustles. Data loss is also a concern since workers are less likely to follow data security procedures at home.
Talent and culture
The workplace can be an effective tool for attracting talent and demonstrating a company’s culture. The lobby, café, views and other variables can communicate how a company values its employees. Prospective employees can see, for example, whether a workplace encourages collaboration. If a workplace encourages teamwork, employees see each other more often and develop empathy. This bond helps reinforce a company’s culture. Businesses and their employees have had to adapt almost overnight to working exclusively from home. Working from home, where employees do not see each other, inhibits this sense of trust and shared culture.
What do you think?
Businesses and employees have shown that they can effectively work from home, but at a cost. Working from home deprives workers of the community, energy and shared culture of the office. Now that our idea of the workplace has changed, do you envision the future workplace? In a post-pandemic world, will the office as we once knew it be able to thrive?
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