For decades, we equated work with the traditional office. Cubicles, departmental offices, and whispering colleagues, perhaps even an overbearing supervisor occasionally breathing down your neck. I’m sure you can imagine it and probably dreamt about escaping that life if you are currently working in or have worked in an office.
Enter the work from home arrangement. At first, it seems like a dream come true. You can work in your pj’s (but I don’t encourage it), skip a grueling commute, snack whenever you want, and most importantly, see your kids and/or pets between breaks.
Of course, those of us who actually work from home know that there’s more to it than that. And now, given a year-long pandemic, the rest of the world’s gotten more familiar with WFH too.
Only, we’re quickly finding out that not everyone is suited for working from home, and that the things we love about it can go awry under the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in.
Hence, the debate about insisting on a work from home arrangement versus permitting a work from anywhere set-up.
Let’s take a look.
Work From Home vs. Work From Anywhere
Normally, the work from home arrangement is ideal for a lot of people. However, as of this writing, our circumstances are far from normal. Global lockdowns have made our homes feel more like a prison than a sanctuary. The schools are closed, so people with kids have to watch them round the clock AND get work stuff done. The internet’s gone all patchy because everyone’s using it at home, and the overall atmosphere is tense for all the uncertainty that lies ahead.
Worst of all, you can’t escape to a nearby café for solace.
And so, this is why there’s been some pushback towards announcements that WFH is here to stay. For a lot of people, home is the last place they’d want to be once the pandemic is over.
Hence, the proposal to rebrand “Working from Home” into “Working from Anywhere.” The difference lies in the flexibility that the latter promotes.
Initially, the whole point of WFH is to untether ourselves from rigid venues and schedules. This way, we can take on and carry out work whenever and wherever we want it to. Thus, Working from Anywhere means precisely that. Your home, in a hospital room as you watch over a sick relative or child, a friend’s house as you catch up, or even your old office if you happen to miss your old colleagues.
This sort of flexibility also acknowledges that different locations and schedules suit different kinds of remote work. Some days might be filled with meetings as we get projects organised. Some might require us to hunker down alone as we hammer out presentations, briefs, and so on. There might also be times when we seek the solitude of home – or the solace of colleagues.
Thus, advocating for a Work from Anywhere set-up could signal that your company understands what your workers need and that you’re willing to provide such.
The Way Forward
So, if Work from Anywhere is so great, why is there a debate in the first place? Good question.
A lot of remote employers worry that productivity might decline if they allow such an arrangement. Working at home is distracting enough. Coffee shops, co-working spaces, and/or the nearest beach resort are even more so.
That’s a fair point, but we have to remember that great remote workers have certain traits in common that allow them to transcend these. Strong self-discipline is one of them.
Besides, many Filipino remote workers also serve as their family’s breadwinners. Do you really think they would allow relatively insignificant distractions to get in the way of providing for their loved ones? Didn’t think so either.
We understand that some arrangements are less flexible when it comes to venues. Front-facing positions like customer support, for instance, require a relatively quiet background. And that’s fine.
But for the rest, perhaps it’s time to broaden our minds and consider alternatives. And to maybe give our hardworking remote employees the benefit of the doubt.
The remote work landscape is constantly evolving. It is crucial to stay on top of developments not just to ensure optimum productivity, but also so that you can continue to cultivate a working environment that will attract and retain the best talent. After all, happy workers are productive workers, yes?
And if you have yet to hire the best Filipino remote talent, Remote Staff can help you with that. With over a decade of experience in scouting and onboarding the best Filipino remote workers for various Australian clients, we can help you find the right person for your business’ needs, regardless of your preferred work schedule.
Click here to schedule a callback with us today.
Serena has been working remotely and writing content for the better part of the last decade. To date, she's written for Pepper.ph and Mabuhay Magazine, among others, and has churned out more than a thousand articles on everything from The Basics of Stock Market Investing to How to Make Milk Tea-Flavored Taho at home. Hermits, aspiring hermits, and non-hermits with interesting project propositions may email her at serena.estrella10@gmail.com.
