I’m more efficient when I work from home. The office has more distractions for me. The commute to the office drains me. The lunch break is longer when I’m in the office.
I know this isn’t true for everybody. But it’s true for many people. Most polls I’ve seen had people preferring some percentage of work to be done from home. Like myself, most also wanted some office time. It’s good to see the people you work with face to face. Team meetings also help resolve some problems.
Companies, on the other hand, seem split. Many want their employees back in the office full time as soon as possible. After this last year, one has to ask himself why.
I can only blame lack of trust. I can’t see how that could be justified. If there’s one thing this last year has proven to businesses, it’s that they can trust their employees. Not that they had reason to doubt that before. But now we have data. We can see whether productivity declined.
My point is this: you have to trust your employees. No healthy system can operate without trust. If you have good reason not to trust your employees, you need to reconsider your hiring process.
Trust your employees. Very few would opt for staying out of the office entirely. Your employees will make the right choice. For themselves, for their team, for their company. Trust them.
And to the employees I say, if your workplace doesn’t trust you, leave. You deserve better. Put your mental health first and leave. It’s fair for you, and it’s just.
This is a new world, people. Adapt and grow, or stay behind.
Optimising My Life 