Why Going Back to a Regular Office Schedule can be Counterproductive
As the pandemic is reaching its end, some people believe it’s time to get back to our regular lives. It includes being in a normal work environment. While it may sound ideal, moving in that direction could be a mistake. It could even be counterproductive. Here’s why.
The work from home setup wasn’t bad
There were doubts about the work from home setup at first. Some people believe it could be a disaster for businesses. Eventually, employees managed to adjust and succeeded in doing their jobs. It showed that nothing is impossible during a pandemic. While it’s true that many companies suffered or even closed, others flourished. Interrupting this new rhythm might be bad for businesses.
Employees love flexibility
Another reason to continue working from home is it allows flexibility. Employees can do whatever they want whenever they want it as long as they can get tasks done on time. It comes with a great responsibility and it forced employees to do their share. Sure, they can work while on a vacation, but they still made sure they don’t miss a beat. Everyone became more productive as a result of the new setup. It would be a shame to get back to the usual routine and make these people lazy again.
An 8-hour a day, 5 days a week work setup isn’t always the best
It’s wrong to think that working during regular hours is the best idea. Some people are more energized working at night. Others can get the job done in three hours and won’t do anything significant for the rest of the day. Employees should have the chance to work at their peak instead of being forced to work because they’re on the clock. Some of the best ideas appear when employees are in their best physical and mental shape.
Traveling to work can be disruptive
There’s no point in going to a physical office and being stuck in a traffic when employees can work from home. Within the same time, these employees could have extended their sleep or do more for their work. When they reach the office after battling terrible traffic, they have already lost energy. It’s the last thing you would like at work.
The pandemic isn’t really over
While some people are ready to declare that the pandemic is over, it might still be around. When it becomes endemic, it will be like the regular flu. It can still impact people and even kill some. It also requires isolation. The entire process can be disruptive. It’s better to keep everyone apart and have a good work flow. There’s no need to isolate employees or suspend work.
For these reasons, companies have to think long and hard before going back to regular work. This setup has been the norm for the last two years and adjusting to a new one can be challenging. After seeing both setups, it might be harmful to go back to pre-pandemic arrangements.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://edutora.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/%D5%A8%D5%B6%D5%A4%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B8%D6%82%D6%80.jpg
2nd image from https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/581034789404442970/
