Work from Home: The new normal of today's work environment

Subhash Basishtha

(Assam Science and Technology University. He can be reached at subhash@astu.ac.in)

January 30, 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was detected in India. Life was normal, and everything around us was as usual. Gradually COVID-19 cases started increasing all over India. On March 11, 2020, WHO declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Soon masks, sanitisers and hand gloves were becoming the daily essentials of everyone. On March 25, 2020, PM Modi declared a nationwide lockdown initially for 21 days. Most of us were not familiar with the lockdown scenario, where we couldn't able to come out of our home except for some essential activities and medical emergencies. Offices, educational institutes, various organizations were asked to shut down as per the guidelines of nationwide lockdown. With the passage of time in the lockdown period, almost every organization started thinking of an alternative way to continue their official works. They started using various online platforms like Zoom, Cisco Webex, Google meet etc., for conducting virtual meetings from the comfort of their home. Educational institutes were also started using a platform like Zoom, WhatsApp messenger, email to carry on their regular classes. At first, it was seeming to be impossible for most of the students of rural areas and economically weaker section people as most of them are not so familiar with the online learning method and didn't have a proper communication infrastructure in their area. Since good internet connectivity and gadgets like mobile phones, laptops are essential in order to take part in the online mode of classes. But as time passes by most of the students of educational institutes were somehow able to manage at least a mobile phone with internet connectivity and took part in the online classes using the various platform. Parents were also relaxed as they were not ready to send their children to schools as COVID-19 cases were increasing day by day all over the country. The online mode of classes solved both the problems of missing regular learnings and the fear of going out.

The concept of Work from home (WFH) became apparent in a broader way in India with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the WFH scenario employees can easily connect and start their office work from anywhere they are. In this mode teachers, educators, tutors started teaching virtually in various ways like taking online live classes, sharing their own YouTube videos, recording audios using WhatsApp messenger, sharing presentations, notes through Google classroom, email etc. In a very short period of time students also learned a lot of various modes of online platforms. Many schools, universities across the country also conducted examinations through online mode. Various companies also started their work from home culture and found it to be really effective in most of the companies. In this work from home culture, employees/educators can really give their 100% effort as they did not have to report to the office hurriedly, like the traditional way. With the ditching of commuting time, every employee also started feeling relaxed and less tired most of the time in a day. It also helps the employee to utilize the time to support their mental and physical health. In a recent survey, the employers also found that productivity and efficiency of work increased in the WFH scenario. As surveyed by a company namely Airtasker among 1,004 full-time employees about their daily tasks and efficiency it is found that regular employees stay idle for about 37 minutes excluding lunch and regular breaks, whereas in the WFH scenario employees were found to be active most of the time. There are many reasons for this, as an employee can set their working environment, working time etc., as per their requirement. In the WFH mode, an employee can spend maximum time with their family while continuing their office activities remotely, which improves the attachment of the person with his/her family members. It also helps them to reduce stress as there is less mental pressure. Employees also get time to take care of their health by performing yoga, various exercises, gym activities at home. It leads to a healthier body and also increases the creativeness of employees. The employer of the organization also got benefitted as they did not have to bear the expenses of office spaces. WFH also reduces the electricity bill of every organization as there was no use of ACs, fans, lights in the office environment which is also a great contribution towards a green environment. In the education sector, students were getting benefitted from quality notes of their chapters as teachers were getting more time to prepare their classes, lectures in an effective way. Students also felt easier to interact with teachers to clear their doubts. With the implementation of WFH mode, employees, teachers, educators, students were able to stay at home without hampering much of their regular office activities, classes, tuitions etc., which helps the Government of India a lot to control the spread of COVID-19 in India.

Though this mode can't be implemented for the employees of some sectors like production industries, tea industries, agriculture sectors, medical institute, municipal corporation, police department etc., WFH seems to be really effective in this pandemic time for many sectors especially helping the students, office employees to stay at home and also to continue their study and work. The government may consider the pros. of WFH scenario and may think of implementing a similar scenario in a rotation manner for some of the sectors initially as we need to live with COVID-19 directly or indirectly at least for a few years.