The Work From Home vs In-Office Debate
- Jenna Attwell
- Mar 23, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 2
What does the work environment look like in 2024?
Photo credit: Austin Distel on Unsplash
Content
The work from home and in-office debate has carried over into 2024 and remains to be the topic of discussion. When we look back at what brought this on, it put things into perspective, one that had a lot of us think long and hard about for the next few years.
Four years ago, the looming news of COVID-19 made an appearance on South African TV, airing the first nationwide address by President Cyril. What was thought to be a rumour was, in actual fact, a reality that we didn't see coming or prepare for.
2020 was a year of discomfort, not only because of the intense health practices, but for the livelihood of families and businesses alike. It was the year that changed our way of living - mentally, physically, and financially. No one could have predicted that a worldwide disruption was underway.
But, I digress.
So, how did we survive? Between the health and safety crisis and people losing their jobs, there was no telling what 2024 would look like. For instance, no one could have predicted that the pandemic would push social media trends to new heights, one where people were able to engage with and shop from their favourite brands, whilst others would earn an income as a social influencer. As a matter-of-fact, not only did it help brands re-establish their online presence, it gave brands an opportunity to learn more about social media best practices and improve their operations.
Pandemic or not, we have to underline what tugged society between remote work and the traditional workspace, even to this day.
Find out why the working from home and in-office debacle continues.
Working From Home Vs In-Office
These models became the hot topic because of the pandemic; working from home was the only option and most of us were uncertain as to when in-office would return. It was controversial at the time because there was no way to monitor employees working from home. The real dilemma was proving how everyone got their work done. Trust had to be earned.
Since 2021, working from home became a promising model for those who needed to stay in touch without having their absence affect their work flow. It was the dawn of a new age - especially for South Africa. The only downside, the one thing that eventually introduced South African professionals to hybrid work, was loadshedding.
Benefits That Popularised Working From Home
Some folks felt a lot of the benefits. Zoom calls became a daily thing and so did pyjama bottoms. It was also evident that being present was less stressful - no traffic road rage, long commutes, or the early school drop off. I could go on and on.
There are many reasons for why this worked when it did, and why it would continue to work today. In fact, according to a survey covered by BusinessTech, 87% of South African professionals responded that working from home didn't affect their hours, while more than 50% of participants stated that they felt a lot more motivated.
With that said, the following benefits are based on my own experience, as well as shared reports from other reputable sources.
Have a look at what working from home has to offer.
Increased productivity
Productivity depends on the person, its somewhat subjective. What one person finds distracting to their productivity, another might thrive from it.
Distractions that we all knew too well before 2020, looked something like this:
Enduring traffic before and during loadshedding.
Subjected to noise initiated by others.
Coffee breaks that turn into an unplanned catch up.
Faulty ergonomics in the workplace, such as computer software, lighting, desks, chairs, cubicles and/or open space.
Dealing with conflict management and frequent meetings.
When you're working from home or elsewhere, you realise there's a lot to do when you sign off on a call or have to turn in a project - time works differently for some reason. Regardless, I believe that when your needs are met (whether you work better in-office or remotely), you're more likely to put your head down and carry on with the task.
Increased flexibility and work-life balance
While employees appreciate the flexibility of working from home, you'll find that some managers (especially micro-managers) think that it's nothing but an excuse to not work and that it's time to come back into the office, everyday.
If an employee can manage their personal life whilst getting their work done, you've hired the right person/s.
Cost effective
Home offices can get a bit tricky, especially if some employees don't have the necessary resources to work from home. For instance, not a lot of people can afford solar or backup power during loadshedding.
However, for those who do have the resources, they'd be using less fuel to and from the office (including the weekly grocery shopping after work), whilst businesses can save on office rentals if they choose not to renew their contracts. An employer could also consolidate resources online and use automation to cut costs on outsourced services.
Retention and morale
Working from home not only improves retention and job satisfaction, but it also reduces recruitment costs, increases autonomy and flexibility for full-time employees.
Streamlined processes
When working from home, teams are more likely to succeed when:
Communication channels and support are in place.
They're able to adapt.
Agility improves.
Collaboration continues by using online tools, such as Google docs, Slack, Monday.com, and Magnetic.
Standardised systems are put in place and fewer errors are made.
Benefits that Reinforced the Hybrid Model
We all know that a healthy balance is everything, and what better way to express this balance than utilising hybrid work. A lot of us had to readjust after being out-of-office for so long. It felt like your first day at school all over again.
The very moment we could unmask and relax on sanitiser, we entered the age of hybrid. The commutes started up again, loadshedding was on a break, and those essentials we couldn't buy before, were back on the shelves.
Four years later, here we are.
Workplace Culture
Workplace culture is what becomes standard in the office, from team dynamics and engagement to reward and leadership skills. There are a few who thrive off of their environment when they're in-office, and then there are those who work wonders when they aren't in-office. It is what it is. Although, when you look back at the workplace pre-pandemic versus post, the outcome helped employers improve on the culture they once had, and as a result, more people started to sing a different tune on a Monday (in a good way).
Synergy
Employees are more inclined to collaborate and feed off each other in-office, it requires less effort when sharing ideas or asking questions. When working from home, less interaction means communication has to be scheduled. The downside is that you might find someone missing from the call or the Wi-Fi connection is poor at home.
The office acts as a team sport, everyone participates, whether alone or together.
Motive
What's the reason for being in-office when you can just do everything online? Purpose.
When people are in the office, there's a purpose, a mission, a goal, and shared ideas. It's not about making it to payday, it's about connecting and reinforcing good work ethic. Having a motive in-office will also help employees manage conflict better.
What Does the Work Environment Look Like Today?
To put it simply, it really comes down to what type of industry is most likely to implement these models, whether you're team hybrid or team remote. Post-pandemic, employers had to rethink which model suited their operations the best - some had mandated a complete return to office while others stuck to hybrid. Unless you're a freelancer like myself, there's no turning back to remote.
The debate made its "global" debut. In the United States, a 2022 survey conducted by McKinsey showed that if given the choice, 87% of employees would work remotely or flexibly. In addition to that, 28% of the respondents said that they are able to work remotely part-time, and 35% work from home five days a week.
When you look at the framework around these two models in South Africa, it was topsy turvy at one stage. In a recent BusinessTech survey, 60% of participants have had to fully adopt flexible working, while 44% have made it clear that they don't plan on heading back to the office.
People have clearly found a middle ground in 2024, and it looks like hybrid work is here to stay.
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