COVID-19 leads to better ways of achieving our work-life goals
Since the arrival of COVID-19 and its spread worldwide, the world’s population has found itself in a sudden frenzy, not only due to the scary prospects that the virus presents, but also due to the wholesale change in lifestyles that the situation has precipitated.
Working and studying, for example, have been upended with the closure of businesses and schools, throwing office workers, already stressed-out teachers, and even more stressed-out students into confusion. To make matters worse, nobody seems to know when this crisis might come to an end, as the situation seems to be constantly changing. This has been made dramatically and disappointingly clear by our health authorities’ decision to extend local social gatherings to a maximum of 50 individuals.
Methods of production have therefore had to adapt to allow people to keep moving forward and ensure that businesses can remain afloat and expenses are covered. After all, Hong Kong is not the place that allows much margin of error when it comes to struggling businesses. This is especially true with our mom-andpop stores and various small and midsize enterprises, which constitute the main driver of Hong Kong’s economy and source of employment.
However, we are blessed to live in an age where the technology exists to allow us to work from home. This presents multiple advantages, not the least of which is that it allows parents with young children to maintain their careers, who otherwise would have to quit their jobs to take care of their broods. It also allows employers to cut down their overheads as they no longer have to maintain large offices, which in Hong Kong is a major drain on company expenses. The concept of using technology to allow employees to work from home is hardly new, but the irony is that it has taken a devastating pandemic to force the workplace culture to be more receptive to the concept, and become even more productive in the process. There is no doubt that many employees who now work from home will maintain the practice even after the pandemic; employers will not be blind to its advantages vis-a-vis their bottom line.
Therefore, as more and more businesses start to discover the beauty of allowing their employees to work from home, many industry leaders may want to adopt it on a more-permanent basis once the pandemic crisis is over. The advantages of it actually extends beyond both employer and employee, as this will drastically cut down on the daily commute, which will translate into a significant reduction in carbon emissions by those who used to drive to work. Furthermore, it actually gives employees more time to do productive work. Therefore, it will result in a triple win: for the environment, employers and employees.
This unexpected turn of events should be welcomed and supported by all. Imagine the elimination of the daily commute costs, time and associated stress, and its positive impact on the environment. Talk about a silver lining under a gloomy sky!
For those needing further evidence of the benefits of working from home, I shall draw their attention to several studies that have demonstrated that productivity rapidly increased for many employees when working from home as they faced fewer distractions and, being in charge of their own time, were more focused on finishing their tasks. A study by Stanford University in 2017 evaluating the benefits of working from home, for example, showed encouraging results: As well as proving that workers were more focused and productive, they generally worked more hours overall, took fewer breaks, used less sick leave, and felt a stronger sense of achievement than their in-office counterparts. Some even managed to multitask very successfully — looking after their young children at home.
Individual health levels also improve when working from home. To begin with, more attention goes into meal preparation, and there are more opportunities to exercise, which results in a healthier lifestyle. At the same time, more time can be spent with family members, leading to a decrease in stress levels, according to a 2011 study. Employees were, as a result, less likely to quit than those who went into the office on a regular basis but had problems focusing due to their concerns over domestic issues.
While it is true that working from home permanently would not be suitable for everyone and for all occupations, it is clear that it could still be considered on occasion for the average office worker, as is indeed currently the case with several companies. It would also be of special help to certain people, such as mothers who have to juggle their career with family duties; workers who must spend a lot of time and resources commuting; and most crucially, the physically handicapped.
Employers would, of course, benefit greatly from this increased productivity. Many would also save money over the long term, as some research has suggested: Working-from-home protocols have often made companies think more carefully about expenses and whether they are absolutely necessary, especially in regards to renting office space and buying equipment. Furthermore, employers would have more opportunities to hire the most suitable professionals to meet their needs from anywhere, unrestricted by geography.
Hong Kong ranked 76th out of 156 countries and regions in the United Nations’ 2019 World Happiness Chart. There is increasing evidence that during the recent social unrest, Hong Kong’s mental health levels were at their worst in many years. The situation for the average Hong Kong resident has of course not improved since then: The uncertainty created by COVID-19 has spread further anxiety, stress, and fear to dangerous levels. It has become increasingly important, therefore, for Hong Kong to consider options that could help promote peace and harmony. While it is understood that happiness is derived from a multiplicity of factors, a more-flexible working environment would be a good start. Indeed, more and more countries around the world, from Canada to New Zealand, have started promoting remote working even before COVID-19 reared its ugly head, with many employees there regularly fulfilling their duties from home once or more a week. There’s no reason why Hong Kong could not follow suit. The pandemic may yet force us to open our eyes to new, more-productive and better ways of accomplishing both our professional and domestic goals.