The only reason a vast majority of us have tried working from home these past few months is because of COVID-19. Initially, it sounded like an opportunity to kick back and relax as we worked underneath the bed covers. But eventually, the days dawned on us and months passed. It seemed like returning back to a normal life and a normal work routine would never happen.
As of right now, some companies are returning to their offices with precautions and some continue to work online. To be fair, whether it is ‘safe’ or not to go ‘back to normal’ is a grey area discussion with much to debate. However, one fact remains is that a lot of us discovered what it is actually like to work from home with all its pros and cons.
On that note and keeping COVID-19 aside completely, 925Egypt turned to hear what people are saying on whether they would actually like to work from home. In these current times, we are quarantined and working from home because we have to be. But if we had the option, and having tried ‘work from home’, would people prefer to continue this lifestyle of online working?
Comfort, Time And Space
While a lot miss the office, the freedom and flexibility employees currently have – all while producing quality work, is unmatched. Between the traffic, long meetings and sometimes not much work to do in the office, the space employees have to breathe was limited.
Mariam Ismail who works in media said, “maybe work from home could be something on the table as an option. There are days where the ride to and from work seems impossible, and you’re just craving to work from the comfort of your own home.”
It’s true that some days, especially before COVID-19, the rush of work life was getting suffocating by the minute, and being able to set your own pace at home without someone breathing down your neck is sometimes the best way to produce work .
Working from home was a comfort that, once we tasted, is rather difficult to say goodbye to. Abdelmoneim Hany said, “[work from home] gave me more time to sleep. I have to take a bus going to work and coming back from work, and the total time it takes is around 3 hours and a half.”
Photo From Egyptian Streets
In all honesty, traffic in Egypt is no joke. If it isn’t draining your wallet, then it is draining your mental health. And if it’s doing neither of these things, then it is simply a waste of time.
Zeina Ayman, who works in marketing and communications said that transportation “kills the day” and makes it difficult to actually be productive.
With the free time we have when transportation is taken out of the equation, employees can pursue other hobbies and spend time with family.
Nada Naguib, who works in e-commerce, said that “it gives me more control of my time, I’m able to balance my family and friends with my work, and I can pursue other fulfilling side projects.”
Ayman added that since she graduated, she was dragged into the work routine with little time for herself, but now she can manage to do more than just her job.
Why Work From The Office If The Job Can Be Done From Home?
To be fair, not all jobs can be done from home. Sometimes if you are in media or marketing, you need to meet clients or do interviews. If you work in a factory, a restaurant, or the medical industry, then you do need to interact with people and go to your workplace. Occasionally, some jobs can be a little bit of both. Meaning, they can be done from home but also need occasional office meetups.
And perhaps this is where the flexibility of working hours and working days needs to come in. ‘Check in’ and ‘check out’ is rather outdated. If your employees are getting the job done well, then does it really matter where and when they did it?
Basant Samhout who works in podcasting at Kerning Cultures shared how working from home is convenient. For her, and for other journalists, the work routine includes writing a story and conducting interviews. Hence, it doesn’t need more than two to three face to face meetings with an editor, which can also be done virtually.
“For me, I don’t have to leave the North Coast to have a meaningful internship. I’m still producing good work and learning, with a view,” Samhout said.
Business Research Analyst Mayar Hamza said that because her work is mainly research, all she needs is a computer, internet connection and a phone, “and my company provides all that, so I’m set.” True that face to face interaction feels different, but “I don’t have to waste time commuting and I still see all my colleagues during our online meetings,” she elaborated.
Much of the world is reliant on digital technology. We use phone apps as planners, social media messages instead of knocking on office doors, and without a laptop most work can’t be done anyway.
Forbes magazine wrote that while COVID-19 promoted a sudden move to digital, when the pandemic is over, the move to digital will still keep going at a high rate. Hence, Ayman says, “I believe that everything nowadays is going digital, so why not work remotely for the jobs that may allow this? Face to face meetings can take place every now and then in order to set plans.”
Not Everything Should Be Digital (Even If It Can)
Not everything new and shiny is a good thing. For some, working online wrecks social life, hurts their mental health, or simply isn’t sufficient in their field. True that a lot of work can be done online, but even if it can be done online, not all of it should be.
Noran Alaa, who is currently unemployed but has worked online before COVID-19, said that she wouldn’t like having her full time job be online, especially if it is based in Cairo, where she lives.
“I’ve previously participated in organizing an international conference that would happen once a year abroad. So, there was no way to actually be there in person and planning. Everyone on the team was from a lot of different countries, but this was a part-time job. Working online for that, was successful. So, I would do that again. But working at my full time job is not something I would want to do online,” she shared.
She added that although Zoom, and other video conferencing apps can help keep people together, nothing beats face to face interaction.
Another important thing to consider is that, when we work at home, work becomes 24/7. Often, sitting on the chair in front of the computer drags on for the day with little movement, poor sleeping habits, and unhealthy food.
Amr Lotfy, who works in advertising, explained that ever since he started working from home, meetings can sometimes be at 10 or 11 pm, instead of his usual 10 to 6 pm working hours.
[In terms of the work/life balance], “since we started working from home, this balance got destroyed, as you are available 24 hours to your family and to your work mates. They both expect to ask for things during mixed times. You might actually be busy doing personal things in the morning and working in meetings at night. This is not flexibility, it is mixing things up.” Lotfy said.
Another major issue with working from home can be lack of motivation to actually work and lack of enthusiasm when working on team projects.
Perhaps the most difficult, and emotionally hardest hit, has to be education. Sure, classes are on zoom but student life and teacher life has changed dramatically from hands-on learning to 0 interaction.
Head Of Department at ADNOC Schools in Abu Dhabi, Nassim Boubekri said, “in education, working from home is not efficient enough as the continuous presence in class around the student is needed. First, monitoring and assessment is more credible and consistent. Second, teachers provide emotional support to students. Third, the rules set in schools help consistency in attitude management.”
Nada Bahgat and Rana Rashad, both of which also work in education, expressed lack of happiness towards working from home. Bahgat said giving classes on zoom limits interaction and proper class discussions.
Overall, the option to work from was more or less newly discovered, at least in the Middle East. And for some people, it has become a better option for their lifestyle. Global organization, Twitter, announced a work from home option forever.
These major announcements are rather interesting and perhaps they can work out in the long run. But there surely is no one answer to whether or not working from home can be okay with everyone.
