WFH, Office or Hybrid? How employees feel about post-pandemic work culture

The concept of a workplace or physical office where every staffer is expected to show up for 8 to 9 hours every day of the week, is one that many of us have lived, enjoyed or tolerated for the better part of our memory.

But the coronavirus pandemic and its accompanying stay-at-home orders have completely changed the way we work. The lockdown normalised working from home and this has prompted a sense of flexibility and more control for workers. As the virus spread slows down, more and more employers are asking their staff to resume in-person work.

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However, findings of a new World Economic Forum (WEF) survey revealed that most people are not ready to go back to the way things used to be. Of the 12,500 workers surveyed, the majority (or 66%) of people want employers to allow flexible or hybrid working models going forward.

The echos in support of flexibility were strongest among women, parents of young children, adults under 35 and those with higher education or income. However, not everyone wants to work from home all the time. People who want flexible work advocate for 2.5 work from home days on average, while Indians, in particular, want 3.4 work from home days a week.

The survey of workers in 29 nations also found that nearly a third (or 30%) of workers are ready to quit or consider looking for another job if they were forced to go back to the office full-time.

Around half (52%) of the people said they miss their colleagues, whereas 65% said they are more productive with a flexible work schedule.

But some experts have warned against this overenthusiastic love for flexibility. An International Labour Organisation report said that Gen-Z or early-career workers lose out on the networking and peer support that was normal prior to the pandemic. There is also the risk of leaders losing empathy and becoming out of touch with their employees and their individual needs. Additionally, it could become hard for some people to maintain a work-life balance as the lines between work and home get blurred. This may lead to burnout and mental health issues.

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All in all, the office vs flexibility debate will need to be addressed after a fundamental examination of a company’s operating structure and needs