How Working From Home Has Adapted Post-Covid

Before the pandemic in 2020, working from home was uncommon, with staff heading into the office on an average of 3 days a week. However, in April 2020, shortly after the announcement of the first lockdown, these statistics rapidly increased, with about 47% of people reporting working from home as a result of COVID.

Since the end of the pandemic, employers have reported that they have “no plans to return all staff to the office full-time in the near future”, according to BBC News. It has been proven that working from home improves mental health. It lowers stress, enhances memory, promotes sound sleep, and uplifts your mood in general, hence the reason employees continued to stay at home after the pandemic. The optimal number of days to work at home each week, according to many professionals and academics, is roughly two. Additionally, it allows for 40% reduction in commuting, family time, and freedom, whilst still being present enough to take advantage of networking opportunities, chance encounters, and social activities.

However, working from home doesn’t appeal to everyone. According to research, female employees felt much more capable of being productive, connecting with work, and controlling their schedules when working from home, although their male colleagues found no appreciable differences in these variables between working in an office and remotely. Similarly, younger people were much more in favour of this idea, whilst the older generation preferred a more traditional day at the office The flexible work arrangement, which involves working two to three days per week from home and the rest in an office, appeals to 18 to 29-year-olds the most. 48% of these individuals reported that they would favour hybrid work. Whereas, 44% of professionals aged 30-to-49 are interested in mixed work environments.