INCENTIVES FOR WORKERS, EMPLOYERS

THE new acronym on the block, WFH (work from home) is a boon for some and a bane for others. This has been the norm now for about a year for some, intermittently for others and a new norm for all.

The benefits accrue to employers and employees in public and private sectors.

For employers, there will be substantial cost-saving, especially in the usage of electricity, provision of workspace, savings on overheads, overtime and rentals.

For employees, there will also be money saving as a result of not having to commute to and from the workplace, and having meals outside. WFH also means one can start and end the day as one chooses, as long as work is completed with strong outcomes.

This work schedule can also be helpful when it comes to attending to the needs of the family. This will also reduce stress levels, leading to better health and, consequently, to savings in medical bills.

But not all employees have the same advantages. While some have a proper workspace and facilities at home, there are those who have to resort to working from cramped living or dining rooms, and have to contend with unstable access to work tools like the Internet.

Burnout is also a possibility, as a result of not having colleagues share some of the workload.

For both groups, they miss the office interaction, the personal discussion, the friendly banter and all other opportunities to vent frustrations and swop real-life stories that are a catharsis for stressed souls.

And, therefore, stress levels increase, leading to mental and physical health problems. To incentivise this group of employees, it will help if some relief is given for the workers in terms of enhancing their workspace and providing them with proper ergonomic furniture.

It is hoped that employers would consider developing a workplace policy to provide clear guidelines and address the challenges.

Workers should regularly communicate to their bosses their challenges and seek guidelines for continuing to work from home.

Tax relief should also be considered for employers who provide more suitable equipment and technology for their employees to improve their WFH experience.

It is reasonable to expect that WFH will be the new norm, even after the Covid-19 curve has been flattened or a new vaccine made available. The new norm requires new approaches and innovations that will boost productivity and improve the quality of life.