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Before March 2020, the thought of one day working from home had never crossed my mind. Even online schooling was such a foreign concept to me. Sure, I had taken a few remote courses through Bay College. But the idea of never setting foot in a classroom again was beyond belief, especially as I geared up for my first year at Northern Michigan University.
As a society, we are advised to make a clear distinction between work and home life. Blurring the line between the two, according to mental health professionals, can be detrimental to our health and well-being. However, when on-site work was prohibited during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us were forced to transition to remote work.
I can't say this was true for me at the time. As an 18-year-old, I was still required to work 40 hours a week at a local pizza chain, fully equipped with a mask, gloves, and mandatory temperature checks. But I digress...
According to the National Council of Compensation Insurance, just 6% of the employed population worked from home before the pandemic. Even further, roughly three-quarters of the national workforce had never operated remotely. Due to pandemic protocols and the rapid spread of COVID-19, one-third of the employed population was forced to conduct business as usual from their homes as the outside world came to a halt.
The transition certainly proved to be difficult for some. Coupled with the isolation resulting from lockdowns, at-home work further separated individuals from the social life they had built with co-workers. A recent study published in "Frontiers in Public Health," a multidisciplinary open-access journal, concluded that "a positive work environment provides a nurturing and pleasant [space] which promotes employee commitment."
This lack of daily face-to-face interaction makes it more difficult for workplaces to foster a positive company culture - something those currently looking for jobs identify as one of their top priorities. Instead of in-person meetings, workplaces and classrooms alike were required to opt for online video conferencing, the most popular platform being Zoom.
While Zoom is a great tool for smaller meetings, trying to converse with 50 or more individuals on a call is nearly impossible. When my classes switched online, trying to ask professors a question or respond to a classmate was not even worth the effort - especially when people do not understand how to properly operate the video conferencing app.
Meaningful relationships were difficult to form, which made navigating new work/school experiences much harder than need be.
But as time passed and we became well-versed in at-home operations, our perception of remote work changed. Productivity levels amongst employees started to increase as they learned how to better manage their time. These newfound time management skills granted increased flexibility in schedules, which reduced stress levels among workers and allowed them more free time to do things like exercise, cook, and clean.
Many found that not only could they effectively work from home, but they could also get more done (both work and home related) than they ever could before. While offices are great for communication and collaboration, they also house a multitude of distractions. From your stomach begging for a lunch break to overhearing co-workers' conversations, there always seems to be something else to focus on while working on-site.
When working from home, however, you are given more freedom. You can choose which hours of the day you would like to work, isolate yourself to improve focus, and you don't have to wait for a lunch break to eat!
The popularity and effectiveness of at-home work cannot be refuted either. Three years after the beginning of the pandemic, Pew Research Center reported that "35% of workers with jobs that can be done remotely are [now] working from home all of the time." That is a drastic increase that will forever change our concept of work - an idea that has always been associated with a morning commute, an uncomfortable office chair, and a multi-line phone.
As someone who has held on-site, remote, and hybrid jobs, I have found that I am most productive in a hybrid setting. The flexibility of at-home work removes the sense of urgency and anxiety that often accompany me in an office setting. Yet, I love conversing and problem-solving with my co-workers, which is difficult to do over Zoom. Therefore, conducting research and writing from home, then presenting my work to those at the office, has proven the most effective work method for me.
I am not suggesting that all those who can work from home should be required to do so. I completely understand that working remotely is not for everyone, especially those who thrive in an office environment and need a system of accountability that operates outside of themselves. But when work can be done from home, I believe that is an option people should be given by their employers.
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Andie Balenger is a native of Gladstone and is currently attending Northern Michigan University. Her column focuses on college life and runs Thursdays in the Daily Press.