Is Work From Home just a fad, or do you think its going to be the way of the future?

Question

I feel like it will eventually be something most companies are going to embrace, if they haven't already.

EricSummer · Accepted Answer

Companies are going to notice a significant loss in productivity from this and there is going to be a backlash. We have to remember that employees are not the most productive when they are the most comfortable. These two things do not go hand in hand.

Today I'm actually on vacation, but I wonder how many of you are writing this while "working from home" (in a well-earned break, no doubt, except if you are also on Instagram or have many followers still elsewhere).

The optimum for most people is one day a week from home for office work. Most companies are now overshooting the optimum. Exceptionally, there can be solitary work with clear outcome, such as coding. This can work with more days from home. Most office jobs are less clear-cut.

However, it is here to stay. It will just be reduced somewhat again.

Astarlessnightsky · Accepted Answer

Some jobs could never be done remotely, but most office jobs are already done remotely.

And for those jobs it doesn't really matter of you drive 30mins to the office and connect to a server on the other end of the country or just sit and home and connect to the same server.

It does require some technical advancements, internet sucks in many regions of the world, even in countries like US and germany, you have areas where the internet is as bad as it was in 17th century.

And offcourse new ceos, who don't force their workforce to be present at their desk so they can keep an eye on them.

This would also expand the size of house/homes, as you would need one or two or maybe even more rooms just for homeoffice.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

I believe it will be the only way for most people, which is great for them. However, it is making it so hard for customers to do business with them when there's no one there to answer the phone. Just a message "I"ll call ya back".
Another thing is I only get a few pieces per week anymore. Before COVID I got pieces of mail each day except Sunday. I wonder what I'm missing? Like when my bank moved to another city much farther away from me but didn't notify me. People working at home don't do mail outs anymore. I doubt not every person working at home doesn't keep a stock pile of the companies stationery and matching envelopes so they can communicate with customers while wearing their slippers and drinking their morning coffee.

electromagnetic · Accepted Answer

I’m currently working from home. I can honestly say it’s been such an experience on my mental health. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. Sadly because I won’t in the education sector, the teachers don’t have the same luxury.
A lot of the people I spoke to in office jobs have switched to remote with a few days in the office.
But it seems like a lot of companies realized they can save more money in building space (and the works to keep that building to code) and most people seem rather happy with the change.

MzAsh · Answer

It’s here to stay. I’ve seen this coming for a long time.

AlexEfron · Answer

Honestly, if it can be done from home then I'd much rather prefer to work from home. Unfortunately, not all companies embrace it as I would've wanted it. And then there's the awful "hybrid" mode. Work from office twice or thrice a week and work from home for the remainder of the week. If I have to go to work for half of the week, I can manage another couple of days. And it's even worse if I have to work from a different city. Hybrid mode means that I have to stay in that city.

Not sure how or why the companies wouldn't want to adopt it, but I sure do hope they do

Adam1978 · Answer

It's really good for some industries. Since your no longer limited by office space, each employee bring their own home office. It's far better than cubicles and open office. It might not fit all people and it will be tough to get the work efficiently up for inexperienced employees.

Anonymous · Answer

It’s not a fad. The pandemic showed companies that employees do not necessarily need to be on site for work to get done. Although it seems counterintuitive at first, workers are generally more productive when working remotely. Everyone has different work habits and having more flexibility in your schedule and not being micromanaged allows employees to get more done. This allows companies to cut expenses by requiring less office space and fewer middle managers. It’s also allowed companies to retain staff more effectively. A job is more attractive when you have flexibility and aren’t stuck to a rigid 8 hour schedule and do not have to work in an environment that is often stressful and sometimes even hostile. There isn’t really a good reason to return to having everyone working under one roof.

msc545 · Answer

Nobody likes driving in traffic for hours to a crappy office,. and then later leaving and driving for hours to get home, sleep too little, and then do it all again the next day. Particularly when there is no reason to be at the office except to satisfy the ego of some asshole boss.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I think it depends on where you live and how rich your region is. America has a lot of people who are not rich, but the country has overall high wealth so people can work remotely since they can buy their vegetables and meat from poorer countries. In places like India or China, working online is less common because every day labour is needed and lower demand is available for digital jobs.

Massageman · Answer

It's really kind of ironic. Way back when, a lot more people DID work from home- more farmers worked the land, people involved in creative crafts, etc. Then came the corporate lifestyle. In many respects, many of us are simply returning more to the way things used to be.

Dinklex3 · Answer

Depends on the job.

It definitely wouldn’t be for me. Nor would I be able to, lol.

I love working in a hospital and being surrounded by people, taking in all sorts of energy.

My friend would much rather stay to herself and not be around people, lol.

nolabels · Answer

I believe that manufacturing needs to return to the U. S. in order to achieve long-term economic growth and stability, so that'd be a no from me.

That being said, I can see the benefits of off-site white-collar employment, and I believe that most of that type of work that has already been implemented will continue.

CrimsonAngel09 · Answer

Not a fad. I have bad anxiety, so have to work from home. My best friend has to, as she deals with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The schizophrenia part is the worst for her.

SaoirseS · Answer

It's been around for quite a long time, but wasn't as widespread as it was during the pandemic. Some work assignments can be done from home. But many jobs require presence at the place of work. In my case, that's just downstairs.

Dargil · Answer

It's the wave of the present. More and more keyboard pilots will work from home. Everything in my career can be done online except construction jobsite inspections.

CaptainSmartass · Answer

I think its here to stay. Lots of people (my rather excellent self included) enjoy it, and employers are saving on utility bills. Only regressive managers want to see people in the office. Simples...

AviatorTom · Answer

Many white color jobs can be worked from home, and that trend is here to stay. Most blue collar jobs require physical presence.

Unit1 · Answer

I work from home and I love it. There is no commuting. I can lie on my bed. No need to eat out and spending more money on food. And much more.

NathanDavis · Answer

there is, there has been... and there will be a space, and a need for both... not one or the other

OldWomanBySoul · Answer

Personally, I want to keep my work and home life separate and definitely wouldn't want to make my home, a place that should be safe and stress free environment, also my workplace. Plus having a work place is good for my productivity as well

OddBeMe · Answer

I think Covid opened up more opportunists for remote working. Big business just figured out the hard way how much money they could save not spending it on an office.

najekim · Answer

I have working from home for the last three years. Just have to go into the office for 4 hours one day a week for a few in-person meeting that is not allowed to be done virtually.

Guardian45 · Answer

I certainly WFH becomes a permanent option for those that want it. I currently work a fixed Hybrid arrangement: 3 days in office, 2 days WFH. I LOVE IT!

Twalli · Answer

My job has fully transferred to remote, but people who have worked longer remember when it was in person. So I think it depends on how expensive it is to have people work from home

blissinanarchy1 · Answer

I think it’s going to breed a generation of smarter people, more technologically adapted, but also people are going to be much more inclined to do that then blue collar physical labor, and get much weaker and lazier.

asphaltrhymes · Answer

A fad, I feel like surely 2023 or 2024 it just disappears back to the old days of "business as usual" for nearly all employees, even the big employers, views my own and merely my thoughts.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

My cousin worked from home when she lived with us, but things didn't work, but hey it's worth to try it.

Anonymous · Answer

Fad, everyone here in the UK are mostly back on site

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