It’s been three years since the pandemic forced many businesses and employees to operate on a work-from-home or remote work basis. But now that we’ve mostly shrugging off the virus as something like the common flu, offices are now issuing return-to-office mandates.
The problem with this transition is inertia. Many workers who have gotten used to remote work for the past three years have now enjoyed plenty of the perks of working-from-home. In the US, two-thirds of workers want to continue with remote work according to FlexJobs. And in a survey by ADP roughly the same percentage said that they will quit if asked to report back to the office full-time.
Some are slowly transitioning to it, requiring workers to report only on certain days like a hybrid remote work setup. Others are more aggressive, telling employees to be on-premises three days a week. Those with customer-facing functions are now actually at workplaces full-time .
Some bigger companies were quite proactive in their remote work switches. If they are now asking workers to be back, then generous resourcing may have backfired. Employees are now comfortably equipped to continue working from home. Most of the burgis professionals I’ve talked to are quite up in arms with return to office mandates, arguing that they’re perfectly capable of delivering while in remote work arrangements.
But why are many workers rejecting return-to-office? Here are seven remote work benefits that make employees want to stay with working from home.
1 – Flexibility
Many people have become accustomed to the flexibility that remote work provides. They can now set their own schedules, take breaks when needed, and avoid a strict routine. Just the ability to stand up, work around the home, and have a coffee break whenever you want is already a major perk. This flexibility has become highly valued and contributes to an improved work-life balance.
2 – Avoiding the Commute
Commuting to and from the office can be a time-consuming, expensive, and stressful experience especially here in the Philippines. NCR+ traffic has gotten even worse post-pandemic. With remote work, you won’t have to deal with the daily hassle. You don’t have to go about morning rituals like getting ready and dressing up. You don’t have to deal with cramped public transport or the traffic if you drive. It isn’t uncommon to lose four hours of the day just to commute. You simply save time and money.
3 – Cost Savings
Aside from transportation expenses, remote workers can save money on other things like meals, attire, and other miscellaneous expenses. Many burgis workers have limited time to actually prepare baon, so they end up buying from restaurants and fast-food. With Philippine inflation now pushing the cost a regular serving of fast food French fries to nearly PhP 100, the savings from these things can really add up.
4 – Better Productivity
Many employees have also discovered that they can be more productive when working from home. The time savings from not dealing with the commute can otherwise be spent doing meaningful work. Then, there are the constant distractions of an office environment. One does avoid chatty coworkers, impromptu meetings, and office noise when working remotely. Some have even discovered being able to hit two birds with one stone. Doing menial tasks and “mindless” work like household chores can boost creativity. So, they can finish house work while brewing work ideas.
5 – Personalized Work Environment
With remote work, employees can pretty much configure their work environments. They can set the light, temperature, and sounds to whatever they want. They can decorate and configure their work stations as they see fit, like if they want to pepper their desks with Funko Pops. However, it’s worth mentioning that this only truly works if they have ample space at home. Some office perks can help in productivity, like the free air-conditioning, for instance. The tropical heat of the Philippines is quite the productivity killer.
6 – Work-Life Balance
Working from home allows for easier management of personal and family responsibilities, such as child or elder care, appointments, and household tasks. A lot of working parents I know claim that remote work has allowed them to connect more with their kids, since they can now spend a lot more time with them just because they don’t have to lose hours commuting. Many employees appreciate the ability to be more present in their personal lives without sacrificing their professional responsibilities.
7 – Health and Safety Concerns
Even after the pandemic, some employees may still have concerns about the potential spread of illness in office settings. Some offices tend to be cramped and not well-ventilated. Chances are, there will always be this pasaway officemate who’ll insist on reporting to work even if they’re infected. It’s these nuances that make some fearful of returning back to offices. Remote work allays these fears and allows employees to prioritize their health and well-being.
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This resistance presents quite the dilemma for employers as they still have to make sure that they meet their business goals. Maximizing their investment and spending in employees is a major factor to it.
Monitoring and managing employee performance, lack of face-to-face communication and collaboration, decreased company culture and morale, difficulties in maintaining company security and data privacy, and difficulty in providing adequate support and resources to remote employees, are all valid concerns.
The key for employers and employees is to find a reasonable compromise. A hybrid setup is like the way to go.