Settling the debate: Is remote working here to stay?

As we learn to live with the coronavirus, the jury is still out as to whether we should return to the office. From mixed emotions to confusing regulations, we are here to discuss it all, iron some things out, and maybe even settle the debate on whether remote working is here to stay.

Long live the office

On one side of the argument, the office is an institution we have all become accustomed to and it will long continue. Even a blip as monumental as a pandemic is not about to shut it down.

Working at the company office isn’t about supervision or control. Businesses have been forced into trusting employees to work from home through the course of the pandemic, and in most cases, staff have proven themselves reliable and trustworthy. Rather, the return to office life is about reuniting teams, and reinstating all the things workers have missed.

An office is a hub. It offers a social life, and an unrivalled sense of comradery. It is optimal for collaboration, keeps people and projects on track far more seamlessly, and even gives employees a sense of purpose and fulfillment that working from home cannot rival. The office is a working environment that inspires, enables, and facilitates productivity. Free from the distractions of home life - and all with a more reliable internet connection!

In terms of COVID-19 precautions, we have all become accustomed to boosted hygiene practices, social distancing and regular handwashing. All practices that can be put into place simply in an office environment. Workplaces have established guidelines for safe working, and it is in their best interests to look after their employees.

As we go forward into a future where we live with this pandemic, and any others which may follow, we must learn to adapt and react. This is something top firms such as Google are shooting to achieve, as they reopen their offices. Google is getting more people back to the office by implementing a staggered approach. They understand that the instant switch to remote working came as a culture shock to employees, so are tentatively rolling out a staged program for returning to the office.

Whilst we may feel apprehensive about the return to the office, many are tired of working from home, the cabin-fever that accompanies it, and having to overcome the challenges of spinning the plates – work, kids, housework, virtual meetings, pets, life admin, distractions, etc. Even those who established a work / life divide are finding that as time rolls on their boundaries are becoming more and more blurred. As a result, workers are suffering from burn