Staff Writer
Before the age of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, working from home was an option available to very few employees in the workforce as a whole. The 2019 National Compensation Survey (NCS) from the federal Bureau of Labour Statistics proves the point. According to the NCS, only 7% of the 140 million civilian workers in the United States enjoy the “flexible workplace” benefit of working from home. The majority of these privileged few are mostly managers, other white-collar employees, and the high earners in private industry, state and local government combined.
The Lockdown implemented to halt the fatal advance of COVID-19 forced many employers to make or extend facilities to the vast majority of their workforce. It meant that regardless of their health status with COVID-19, 88% of organizations encouraged or required their employees to work from home. Gantner, Inc., a leading research and advisory company and member of the S&P 500, published this figure on its website on March 17, 2020, after a survey of 800 global human resources executives.
For many people, working from home has brought unexpected benefits such as greater flexibility, increased productivity, elimination of commute time and related stress, and perhaps best of all, extended time with family and loved ones. Of course, the flip side is that the demarcation line between home time and work time has blurred. On March 23, 2020, data from NordVPN showed that employees working from home in the United States (U.S.) are logging an additional 3 hours per day on business virtual personal networks (VPNs) since the shelter in place orders took effect. NordVPN is a cyber-security solution provider to businesses across the world which tracks when users connect and disconnect from its VPN. NordVPN reported that the increase in the U.S. is the highest of all the countries tracked by them. By comparison, employees working from home in France, Spain, and the U.K., work 2 hours more each day, while there were no changes in Italy.
One consequence of this change in work pattern is that maintaining an already delicate work-life balance is becoming even more challenging. As a short-term situation, employees will undoubtedly plow through. However, there are indicators that many employers may see the increased productivity and reduced overhead costs as reasons to start transitioning more workers into the flexible workplace option of remote working. If nothing else, COVID-19 lockdowns have opened the eyes of employers to the possibilities and potentials of having a more significant home-based workforce.
Reports say that the CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey has notified his employees that they may continue to work from home “forever” if they so choose, and the company will continue to facilitate this practice. It is likely a trend that will be followed by other employers. However, it will be necessary for employers and employees to be intentional about fostering a satisfying work-life balance to ensure the overall well-being and personal happiness of staff who are working from home. Some indicators already exist to show that working from home is becoming a problem.
An article by Michelle F Davis and Jeff Green on Bloomberg Business News page, April 23, 2020, shared data from a survey of 1,001 U.S. employees by Eagle Hill Consulting in which 45% of workers said they were ‘burned out.’ Nearly half blamed their condition on an increased workload, the difficulties of managing personal and professional life responsibilities, as well as poor communication and lack of support from their employers. The article also added that the Society for Human Resource Management found that two-thirds of human resources professionals that they surveyed, saw the challenge to maintain the morale of employees as a difficult one. If employers fail to address this issue proactively, then continued high productivity and profitability will be negatively affected. They must take the necessary steps to enable their employees to achieve a healthy balance between home life and work responsibilities, between personal and professional life.
The following are some expert tips that will help people who are engaged in working from home establish a harmonious work-life balance –
- Get dressed each workday to set the tone for your work time. Whether we realize it or not, the way we dress will influence our mindset, our attitudes as well as the way we manage our time and tasks. Remember, you may get called to an impromptu virtual meeting by your manager or colleague. Being dressed in your pajamas, for example, would not present a professional image on Zoom if you usually work in a formal office setting.
- Establish a designated work area that is known to you and other members of your household. When you are in that space, both you and your loved ones will understand that you are in work mode. It should limit interruptions and foster productivity.
- Keep lines of communication open with team members and managers. Regular conversations and virtual staff meetings will keep employees connected. Conversely, letting members of your household know when you may be putting in extra time on work will help to minimize expectations and maintain harmony in the home.
- Schedule a regular lunch break each day, and periodic short breaks also. For example, sitting continuously in front of your computer screen for extended periods can affect your health, including your vision. Use your lunch break to do something creative, spend time with loved ones, enjoy some self-care activity – these are all benefits of being at home when you take your break from work.
- Develop a work schedule. To organize and effectively do your job, make sure you have a plan that shows all the tasks that you need to complete each day to achieve maximum productivity overall. It will help you to focus and meet deadlines and deliver within set timeframes. It will also provide evidence of the work you are doing if needed for your employer. The upside is that as you complete tasks, you will be able to gauge your progress and accomplishments also.
- Have a set time when you finish working for the day. Establish a pattern that colleagues, family members, and friends will know that you are working. Do not indulge the tendency of others to call you for work/work-related matters at whatever time they feel like it because you are working from home.
In conclusion, the goal for employers and employees must be to develop a healthy and harmonious work-life balance. The benefits will be to both parties and for society as a whole in the long run. Enhanced productivity, minimized staff turn-over, a satisfied workforce, families enjoying more quality time, increased social, mental, and physical well-being of workers and their families are ultimate goals worth striving to achieve, together.
