“Businesses try to take back control amid debate over productivity, pay and other issues.” [The National]
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There is some mixed messaging coming from government over WFH.
The Department for Work and Pensions has just announced that people with disabilities could be given “more support” to work from home – although disability charities have warned the new plans could be “catastrophic”.
Interestingly, it has been members of the government who have campaigned against public sector employees working from home – with the latest crackdown on Whitehall shunning the office in favour of working from home on one of the hottest days of the year.
Companies are also rather unsure about what attitude to take to WFH.
It’s created a headache for employers:
When, where and how people work is no longer written in stone as businesses try to take back control amid debate over productivity, pay and other issues… Three and a half years after millions of office staff were sent home en masse, many companies, employees and governments around the world are still figuring out how to adapt to lasting changes to corporate life… Habits in Europe vary widely – the UK has one of the highest rates of remote work and France one of the lowest – but several countries there have led the way with laws enshrining flexible schedules.
Last week, the BBC’s World Service took stock – and asked Is work from home working?
The levels of working from home currently vary, depending on the country and its culture. The Netherlands are looking at legislation to allow employees the ability to work remotely, whilst in Japanese culture the preference for employees tends to be going into the office. So how do we navigate a future where both business and personnel needs are met to provide a good work life balance.
And the stories still keep coming – with so many different perspectives:
Should those who work from home be paid less? | thetimes.co.uk
How to work from home, and still get promoted | telegraph.co.uk
People are still working from home. Does it matter? | Financial Times
Working from home won’t last forever… will it? – Workplace Insight
Finally, in Devon, there are also mixed messages.
We need to be aware of mental health when working from home:
Studies have shown that working from home, or running your own business from home can feel isolating at times, but Work Hubs are great places to meet likeminded people, make business contacts, and form friendships. A number of Work Hubs in Devon will be organising special events throughout the week to help bring their members together and encourage people to talk more openly about loneliness.
We also need to be aware of the needs and learning styles of different school pupils
It is now almost three years since schools were shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic and while many children struggled to adapt to learning from home, others flourished. Exeter secondary school pupil Erin Hough was among those who began excelling above the good marks she had already been getting. In fact, she thrived so much in her new learning environment that she didn’t want to go back when schools were allowed to fully reopen again. She did for two weeks but was then able to convince her parents – who both work from home – to give full-time home education a whirl. Her mum Maxine fully admits she only expected it to last for a few weeks but Erin, now 15 years old and living in St Thomas, has made it work with incredible success.