President’s Message

Fellow Rotarians,

Very Warm Greetings!

Last week we were fortunate to have with us (on our web meeting), Mr. R. Gopalkrishnan. His talk on “THE SHAPER – how the shaper of an institution thinks, behaves and acts differently from the CEO of a good company” was indeed interesting and thought-provoking.

These days, with the ‘lock down’, just as web meetings are our new Rotary meetings, for most people “off to work” means rolling out of bed, ambling over to a kitchen table and starting up the laptop – no commuting and no dressing up in formal work clothes. This may probably be the emerging face of work in the 21st century, and most certainly is in the present COVID-19 situation.

One must not forget that from the beginning of human history, until the late 19th century, before the age of mass travel and electronic communications, most work was done at home – or at least within a fair walking distance from home. With the present pandemic we see a revival of this practice of home-based work.

Having a couch replacing the office chair, or the study at home as the office, commuting just the length of the hallway (hop, skip and jump) and having home-cooked meals at home may have been impropbable, as most were used to office/work place routine. In the current scenario, this no longer is a dream and we all are learning how to cope with, and adapt to, this reality.

Is this an inevitable future of work and change in work culture?

With the spread of the virus, the expected gradual rise of ‘remote work’ has suddenly spurted. Though institutions and organisations have shut down, the need for economic activity and productivity continues.

Let’s consider the positives and a few cautions.

Some recent studies have supported the idea that working from home for the right profession (and sectors) can increase productivity and decrease stress. A few studies also indicate that one’s success in working from home might depend on the type of work one does.

When it comes to a company’s ‘work from home’ policy, everyone is different. One’s productivity and overall success as someone who works remotely depends entirely on his/her preferred work style.

Working from home has its own benefits for employees, as well as, for the employers e.g. telecommuting can limit absences, increase productivity, and save expense and money. It also allows employers to hire the best without limiting themselves by geographical restrictions. Other incidental benefits for the employer are saving costs on electricity and other utilities and for some companies, this can be a matter of increased hours in the day, may result in less fatigue and stress, which in turn would add to productivity. For the employee, the system will help in saving money on transport and fuel, as also, give more free time, quality ‘me time’, which can be utilised to build healthier lifestyles and exercise habits, eating healthy and striking a manageable work-life balance, family bonding, pursuing hobbies, etc.

From an economic or social angle, it can help attract new residents to struggling existing rural communities where living costs are low and can make an organisation’s personnel more inclusive by enabling people with certain disabilities or chronic illness to participate. Additionally, it helps the environment by decreasing pollution with lesser transport used and lesser concentration of people on the streets.

Working from home affords flexibility but it also demands a lot in return. It requires self-motivation, self-discipline, focus, concentration and organisation.

One can get more work done and be more productive when working from home if one does not succumb to the temptations of laziness, social media, casual and prolonged conversations, Netflix and the like. It also makes one quite tech-savvy, since there is greater reliance on texting, Skyping, emailing and web meetings.

Certain essentials for a successful work from home policy are – stay focused and eliminate distractions (such as text messages, phone calls, social media by silencing phones, create a suitable workspace (similar to the office rather than a bed or couch); manage time and follow a schedule (preferably similar as that at office); manage work relationships and take charge of communication (ensure regular communication with colleagues and staff by setting daily or weekly e-meetings); take breaks (get up often during the workday, particularly when drained or distracted, to grab a healthy snack, walk around the home, call a friend, meditate, etc.), maintain a to-do list (so there is no jumping from assignment to assignment); have the required technology (such as internet service and speeds with ethernet, dongle, etc. that meet one’s needs keeping in mind the consumption by other family members, and for long distance and/or international calls, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, and Skype); schedule some connect-with-the-outside-world time, (a lunch date, a video chat with a friend, or an exercise class helps in killing the monotony or a claustrophobic feeling).

Working from home can be thrilling and even profitable, provided one is aware of the pros and cons and one understands oneself. Whether one is self-employed, a freelancer, a part-timer, or a full-time employee, it’s a way to escape the daily grind of physically going to an office/work place.

Preeti Mehta
President