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Working from home or anywhere - A Critique

I am sure before, during and after reading this article, many people strongly think that I am nuts for taking contrarian view when everyone is singing paeans of working from home or elsewhere. This become a new normal. Undoubtedly Covid pandemic has changed the way we work and it has wider repercussion in workplace dynamics. Many proponents think this will be norm in future and they think that work can be done any place. They cite the benefits such

· Flexibility

· Reduction in real estate costs

· Work life balance

· Reduction in overheads

· Tapping geographically dispersed talent

There are certain benefits but this type working is more suitable to organizations which employs knowledge workers. Manufacturing organizations and some service Organizations which requires the presence of employees such as Airlines or Railroads cannot have this kind of working. Most of the Organizations strategies based on teams or groups and their efficiencies. How can such efficiencies are possible without physical presence of employees? There are other issues such as Problem solving, Innovation, collaboration, creativity, mentoring and performance management which requires physical presence of employees. When I think of brain storming in online it appears ludicrous, it’s not only ideas but their body language, and passion will give us more information along with their ideas or views.

This work from home or place of choice also creates many problem to Individuals, organizations and even society.

Individual level:

1. Lethargy: People become lethargic as they are confined to closed places and this will have an impact on both physical and mental health.

2. Socialization: This will get impacted in big way when you work from home. Work place is not only the place we work, we spend time with colleagues and have social interaction. The relationships that are established are at times long lasting and givens us wonderful friends and memories.

3. Weight gain/other ailments: One of the problems from work from home is weight gain and also other ailments like back pain and other things.

4. Isolation/introversion: This prolonged isolation will make people introverts and their only interaction with others will get affected. This will have debilitating effect on individuals in future.

Organization Level:

1. Interpersonal relations: Most of the organizational working based interpersonal relations and collaboration which is not possible with remote working. Most of the organizational efficiencies are based on teams and group and their cohesion.

2. Tacit knowledge: Every organization has vast amount of tacit knowledge which is in the minds of people and which can be grasped by observation, interaction etc. Tacit knowledge which is quite valuable will not be accrue to individuals in remote working.

3. Data Security: one of the important issue is data security. When people working from home or remote locations they do log in from different networks and there is a great possibility data being hacked or stolen or compromised. Some unethical employees can sell the data to competitors also.

4. Innovation/creativity: is not possible without passionate discussions and working together. Innovation/ Creativity are differentiators for any Organization. Human talent utilization will be sub-optimal without these.

5. Cultural issues: Culture is melting pot of any Organization. It is the backbone of DNA of any organization. Working from home or anywhere deprive the individuals of cultural nuances that are required for individual and organizational growth. Without being there how can anyone can feel and understand the culture.

6. Project Management: Some projects require the presence of people for planning, discussing and finalizing the projects. Team cohesion and their relation will have great impact on the success of Projects.

On Economic/ Political and Social Level:

1. Economy: Working for home will have serious impact on economy. Following services will be affected seriously

a. Transportation: It will have an impact on transportation as people will not travel and this will have crippling effect on the people who depend on the sector. Imagine a cumulative impact on jobs in this sector - Be it drivers, conductors, owners, cleaners, maintenance people etc.

b. Entertainment industry: We are all aware entertainment industry is one of the major industry provide mass employment unskilled, semi-skilled and highly skilled people. When people work from home they don’t have the enthusiasm to move from home and see a movie or play etc. Whey are travelling to their work while coming they have tendency drop down and see a movie which will really help entertainment industry.

c. Food and catering: When majority of the people are working from Home, who will patronize street food and other hotels and kiosks? Many people depend on office going people for their sales and livelihood as they are the one who spend money and lunch, snacks and dinner. Sometimes people do indulge in social eating with friends. This sector will face of lot of lag because of dip in sales and lack of footfalls at hotels, food vans, food carts and kiosks.

2. Society:

By being in home and isolation and we will not feel the social problems that are being faced by the society. Our awareness and impact of the social problems will be seen and felt, this is possible only when we venture out of homes by travelling to work place but working for home will make us isolated and our sensitivities for social issues will get dimmed.

3. Politics:

Work place is not only place to work. It is also place where we talk social and political issues. We listen, argue and talk with other about politics and its impact on the economy and society. This will make us more aware of political happenings and its impact. Individuals do miss such kind of conversations and they are poorer in their awareness and assessment of political situations.

Written by:
Subramanyam Degala
Professor at International School of Business & Media
ISB&M, Nande