Previously, I had analyzed the “pros” along with the likelihood of the workforce going back to “normal.” From many perspectives, it feels like work – from – home has, and will become, the new normal. But what are the downsides of the new work – from – home environment?
For many, working from home is inaccessible. Many people don’t have the necessary space or equipment to have a functional at-home workspace. For millennials, many who live with roommates, finding space within their living space has become competitive. Outside of not having space, many don’t have access to proper and necessary equipment, like reliable wifi or technology, to allow them to be productive.
Working from home has also caused grief for administrators and managers. In Streitfield’s article: The Long, Unhappy History of Working From Home, he discusses the hardships faced by CEOs and managers who feel like the culture and environment they’ve worked so hard to create, has now gone to waste. They also discuss the trouble with new hires, who are unable to truly learn or complete the tasks required of them without proper guidance, which cannot be provided while at home. Tech-giants like Google, Apple, and Facebook used to brag about how few people telecommute to the office. Now, they expect just half of their workers to return in person.
Although it has its pros and cons, our current work-from-home environment has proved not to be a “one size fits all” solution.
