There’s no one simple answer on whether an office or WFH setup is the best. But that also means we shouldn’t belittle people who choose one over the other.
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The pandemic changed a lot about how people see and live their lives. Most notably, work culture saw a significant shift as lockdowns had millions work from home. Now, it’s no longer assumed that every job is expected to have you at the office every day as work-from-home or hybrid setups are a more common sight these days. That setup doesn’t look to change anytime soon. But it seems that some people didn’t get the memo of the new normal and that your job is more than just reporting to the office at least five times a day.
You may have seen that video from a healthcare and technology company where its employees were asked about their thoughts on the WFH setup. Now, for a Philippine branch of an international tech and healthcare company, you would think some employees would share a few benefits of a hybrid setup, but instead, they became the trending issue of the week on X as they said WFH makes you lazy, complacent, and seen more as a problem to your work than an option.
HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING IN A HYBRID SETUP
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and they sure gave their opinion, but to see people who prefer a WFH or hybrid setup as intellectually inferior is not the way to go. WFH and hybrid setups have proven to be a benefit for many employees. For some, not having to report every day to an office makes the job easier and is better for their work ethic. They save money on the commute and travel (not to mention avoid the hassle of traffic) to and from the office. Some also prefer having a work environment away from the office and potentially toxic co-workers, whether that be at home, a cafe, or whatever makes them comfortable.
A remote work or hybrid setup also benefits employees who live far from the office and even opens the doors to apply for careers outside the country. More importantly, having a greater say in managing your time, workload, and hours means making it easier to achieve work-life balance. No longer are you constantly participating in the never-ending cycle of waking up early, dealing with rush hour traffic, going home late because of rush hour traffic, being too tired at night, and then repeating the cycle. Boundaries and having a clear distinction between work and personal time? We do know her!
Hustle culture might make you think that it’s cool to always be at the office and grinding with your co-workers, but it’s not. Some of us just prefer a different lifestyle and still be productive with our tasks. In a time when Gen Z see having proper work-life balance as a key factor in what they look for in a job, office work isn’t the ultimate slay some people think it is.
NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL
Of course, that doesn’t mean having to report to the office doesn’t have its benefits. For some, having a set work environment makes them more focused and is conducive to their mindset and productivity. Having face-to-face interactions with your co-workers can also build teamwork and make communication easier. Some tasks are just preferably done at the office with your teammates. But to say that WFH or hybrid setups make you lazy or are breeding grounds for distraction sounds like a you problem. That’s on you, bestie.
At the end of the day, which work environment you thrive most in depends on you and the work you do. But what’s important is that you have the proper attitude about it. Remember that you work to live, not the other way around, so find what best fits you.
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