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The pandemic caused a massive shift in the way people work, with remote working becoming the norm in many industries. However, the return to office working is causing some to reevaluate their working habits and the value of in-person interaction. Natalie Brain of finance firm Creditsafe spoke of feeling liberated since returning to the office, “You are a character in the office in a way perhaps you can never be at home.” Many sales teams, like those at Creditsafe, are returning to at least some regular work in the office after COVID-19 restrictions have been eased.
The pandemic has brought about a lot of change and uncertainty in people’s lives. Still, the adaptability of work-based technology has allowed companies and individuals to make significant changes as part of a new normal. The body representing call centres in Wales said many employers were now moving to formalize two or three days a week in the office, but unions warned of disputes because WFH had been “transformational” for workers. Changes to UK workers’ rights, introduced by the previous Conservative government, came into effect in April, allowing employees to ask for flexible working from the outset of their job, but employers do not have to agree.
While remote working has advantages, the hybrid approach of working in an office, but also having the option to work from home, may be more effective in the long term. Sandra Busby, managing director of Cnet Wales, said there is no difference in productivity with WFH, apart from a small exception, sales. She argues that ‘head down at home and head up in the office’ can be more productive, through interaction, learning, and development. The PCS union, which represents civil servants, said that remote working had been transformational, with people able to work more effectively either from the office or at home, but for some, office work may impose unnecessary burdens on their lives.
While WFH has been transformational in many ways, the post-pandemic world seems to be requiring a hybrid approach, where the in-person experience is not completely lost. It seems that the pandemic has taught us an essential lesson that we need flexibility and adaptability; however, it does not mean that we cannot find value in working from an office, in person. As Brain said, “You can try to replicate it, and we did try during Covid to replicate what we have here as an environment, but it’s just not the same.
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