Midway Between Working from Home and Returning to Office
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Workhubs and cafés are slowly turning into a near-from-home alternatives. The author who worked as an Instructor at the University of Baguio, rests between online classes in 2021 (Photo courtesy of the author).
As employees slowly return to the office from work-from-home set-ups, most discourses seem to linger on the pros and cons of formal and casual work environments.
An International Labour Organization guide for employers on COVID-19 protection suggested ways of maximizing workspaces for productivity while observing social distancing. Working side by side, rather than face-to-face, the use of collective protective equipment and wide desk spacing are some of the major suggestions. However, not all workplaces can afford or have access to needed equipment and space. Offices are not the only workplaces available; work hubs and cafés are slowly turning into a near-from-home alternatives.
Near-from-home alternatives are shaping up to be a great option for some organizations in need of a middle ground. As health and social organizations are highlighting the importance of interconnected, holistic well-being for team members and leaders alike, the concept of a workstation free of the anxiety-inducing factors like commuting and exposure to crowds and elements is appealing.
Near-from-home spaces may be the best option for organizations as we revolutionize team dynamics in the new normal.
Appealing ambiance and atmosphere. Research has shown that laidback environments speak volumes about employee efficiency, enhancing the sense of responsibility, independence and trust. Near-from-home workstations are shared spaces in both residential districts and buzzing city centers. These places have the makings of an office, complete with tools and gadgets that cater to anyone’s work needs. These workstations are usually well-lit, boast fast internet connections, and even serve coffee, snacks, and meals.
These hubs are suitable places for employees to crash without far commutes and decrease the number of people in the office, making for better social distancing.
Workhubs may be plush, but not too snug (Image by Nathan Dumlao, used under license by Unsplash)
Recharged connectivity and creativity. Given the tools and the space to create, employees can definitely do more in hubs solo or in groups. Migrating the office to these near-from-home spaces give employees the opportunity to focus on tasks while not getting too comfortable.
Work-from-home employees may unconsciously slouch or relax, with easy access to a couch, bed, kitchen, or television. Work hubs may be plush, but not too snug, giving more the impression of an office than an extension of a home.
Connectivity issues like wifi, mobile reception, phone access, and printers among others are easily resolved in work hubs as these are key requirements for such establishments.
There are benefits in grouping team members residing in nearby neighborhoods to work on certain projects (Image by Nikita Vantorin, used under license by Unsplash)
Establishing company culture in the new normal. You can establish ground rules, schedules and layout turnaround processes and team dynamics. Teams can be scheduled to be in work hubs for certain days and areas can be recommended where teams can work based on individuals’ personalities or the demands of their work. You can gather members residing in nearby neighborhoods to work on a certain project or direct them to a work hub where you can also contact the proprietors to arrange for special requests.
Research suggests that some employees may be embarrassed about living conditions they don’t wish to be revealed in work-from-home virtual meetings. Some may also have no access to work-related materials or equipment. Near-from-home alternatives are definitely an ideal middle ground between work-from-home and in-office set-ups.
The new normal is revolutionizing the way we see life and its routines, disrupting our earlier practices and ideas of school, home and errands and begging us to rethink, reconsider and redo many aspects of our pre-pandemic life and work.
Ian Layugan hails from Baguio City and is currently based in Gunma Prefecture, Japan where he works with the Kiryu City Board of Education under the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. He has written for Rappler and led research projects for Oxfam, Asmae Internationa, and the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. Follow him on Instagram/Twitter at @ianlayuganx.
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