Working from home, a new working paradigm?

For many, the most difficult part of handling a crisis is the uncertainty. As Italy reported over 400 deaths in a day – the largest single day death toll since COVID-19 entered our collective conscious – many other countries could only guess at if, or when, it would reach such chaotic scales for them.

With this in mind it’s pleasing to see Sri Lanka taking proactive measures in reducing some of that uncertainty. While much of the past week took place under the umbrella of public and bank holidays, as of today the government has taken it a step further, declaring the next week (20-27 March) a ‘work from home’ period for both public and private sector employees.

This latest move should be widely applauded, not for its common sense nature, but rather for the effect it will have on giving businesses and employers clarity on what they should focus on over the next week. No longer will critical mental energy be spent on trying to get employees to work, nor ensuring those that do show up go about their day adhering to impeccable hygiene standards. Instead, all manpower will be targeted squarely on ensuring that as many day-to-day activities can be completed remotely.

And it will indeed be intriguing to see the extent to which both the public and private sector manage this task, mainly because, long before COVID-19 was in the picture, many environmentalists had been extensively proposing the benefits of regularly working from home – while this column itself had spoken in favour of four-day work weeks.

For example some of the benefits derived from a four-day work week experiment conducted by Microsoft Japan, such as happier workers, boosted productivity, and reductions in electricity use, can easily translate to a reality in which working from home is feasible.

Further to this are the environmental benefits. Commuting and the running of company offices are some of the highest contributors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions globally. By removing or limiting these elements the benefits are obvious. In just two weeks of a countrywide shutdown Italy has already reported Dolphins in the canals of Venice and stark, clear waters – something not seen in years – while the carbon emissions, or lack thereof, from China are literally being spotted from space. Even in Sri Lanka the sight of whales off the coast of Trincomalee following the end of the war lingers fresh in the memory as proof of how nature thrives in the absence of humans.

But while it goes without saying that not all everyone can be afforded the freedom to work from home, even for those that do have to go out and work, it’s better. Why? Because the people that frequent their places of work will be less stressed, and as a result more pleasant to be around.

In fact many studies have shown how long traffic-filled commutes add to the stress levels of workers, leading to poor performance, low job satisfaction, and eventually even more stress. With modern technology even at its present state, it’s safe to say that far more occupations than previously thought could easily facilitate working from home. 

And while one week of working from home may not prove conclusive either way, it certainly might put to bed previous arguments against feasibility. And even if it means a short-term hit on productivity, in the long run it could mean a cleaner environment, less congested roads, and a generally happier and more productive workforce.