Work From Home 2022: Why Indian Employees Don’t Want to Return to Their Workplaces
Amid the rising number of cases, a lot of us are back with WFH. And while for some, it may be hectic, many of us are loving it. Here’s what people have to say about it.
By India Today Web Desk: Rising Covid-19 cases across the country have forced India’s companies back to work from home as companies believe that the health and safety of their employees are their top priority. Some companies who had opened their doors for employees to come to workplaces from November-December have now come back to work from home mode.
The government departments have announced 50% attendance in offices. The private sector is also asking its employees to do their work from home. Various IT companies such as Cognizant, Amazon, Flipkart have adopted work from home again and believe that all employees will return to the office in April. However, most employees are not ready to come back to office cabins again. Let’s find out why it is so.
Why do Indians like working from home?
An employee, Debina Roy, who works in an IT company, found a new work routine. When she is waiting for a reply from any client, she does her household chores.
She said that she is living her best life now as she is not wasting her time by spending three hours going to the office and coming back home. Secondly, she is happy that she is far away from a high-pressure environment. She feels relaxed working from home.
Another employee who doesn’t want to mention his name said that working from home gives him freedom as he customises his work environment as per his needs. He said,
When we spoke to HRs on this matter, they said that employees are away from offices and are feeling closer and enjoying their work now and working with enthusiasm.
The reasons can be healthy family income, job flexibility, independence, time for themselves, and, of course, having no eyes constantly checking up on them.
Recruiters say that travel has been one of the top problems for employees. Several employees had to migrate to other states or cities for their work, but most have now returned to their hometowns and can now work from home in their comfort.
They can spend more time with their families. Employees also believe that working from home is all about laptops and a stable wi-fi connection. These two things will help employees work beneficially from anywhere, like from hill stations or beaches.
Hybrid models are also good for employees
Most employees prefer a hybrid working model in which employees will work in both modes, i.e., online and offline mode. This time, most companies are opting for hybrids in the third wave of Covid-19.
Employees have expressed their willingness to come back to the office in a hybrid setup.
The reasons behind this are better infrastructure, alignment with organisational culture, social connection and bonding with peers, and fewer distractions.
The hybrid work model focuses on flexibility between online and offline modes and maintaining work-life balance. Several surveys say that the hybrid model will be the best and possibly it will be adopted in the future.
Women employees in work from home mode
Women may like to work from home more than men as most of them have other responsibilities to do, like household chores and taking care of their family.
Women who work from home are able to do their work and domestic chores together. But they are getting bogged down by a higher share of domestic chores and responsibilities with the work-from-home strategies implemented by their companies.
Even when both partners are working from home, women have to handle a majority share of domestic responsibilities.
Neha Sharma, an employee at an IT firm, said that before the pandemic, she explained her work area to her family members and told them that she would work in those hours, as her workplace had now shifted to home so that her family members would support her. However, that support is still in progress by the family.
Women can work from home better when their family also support them but, if they can’t, then they like to work from the office as it gives only work stress not domestic stress.
Work from home or work from office: Which is better?
This debate has started among employees since India has shifted towards enabling digital technology as it is the future when it comes to work. This question also comes into the debate: which is better, work from home or work from the office?
Many employees say that work from home is better as there is no travel, better work-life balance and saves money, while some employees say that work from the office is better as there would be face-to-face communication with other employees and they could manage everything by themselves.
Several studies were done on this matter. The results show productivity while working from home is better than working at the workplace.
On average, those employees who work from home spend 10 minutes less a day being unproductive, work one more day a week, and are 47% more productive.
#womenindia #womenindiatv #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #femaleentrepreneurs #growthmindset #buildalifeyoulove #girlboss #girlpower #womanownedbusiness #GirlBossesUnite #FemaleFounders #Entrepreneurship #Entrepreneur #BrandYourBusiness
