Ah, the joys of realising you’re working from home on a Monday — no Sunday scaries, no ironing shirts at 11 PM, and you can get from your bed to your ‘work’ in 30 seconds. Sounds ideal. That’s certainly what most of my mates seem to think. But should it be? After 18 months of solidly working from home during the pandemic, I was genuinely glad to be back in the office. No commute was nice, but is WFH really the dream it’s made out to be, or is it just a cleverly disguised as a benefit to save companies money?
Let’s be honest, working from home isn’t exactly the productivity paradise some people claim it is. For every article that says people get more done at home, there’s another one highlighting how much time gets swallowed by distractions. The fridge, the TV, the laundry — and that’s just three! Without the structure of an office, it’s too easy to swap spreadsheets for social media or take a “quick” break that turns into an hour.
And then there’s the isolation. When you’re not in the office, you’re out of the loop. You miss the impromptu chats, the chance to bounce ideas off your team, and all the business buzz from other departments. Teams calls are hardly a substitute, especially when half the team is on mute and the other half is pretending their camera’s broken, there’s nothing quite like talking to a blank screen. You can’t overhear what’s going on, so you end up missing out on those little bits of information that keep you in the know.
The truth is, companies aren’t pushing WFH just to be nice. It’s a cost-cutter’s dream — fewer desks, smaller offices, and a lot less spent on everything from electricity to coffee. Offering remote work as part of the benefits package makes them look good too, like they’re all about flexibility and work-life balance. But let’s not pretend it’s entirely selfless. For businesses, it’s an easy way to attract talent without spending more on actual salaries or perks that cost real money.
So, is WFH really a benefit long term? Personally, I’m not convinced. A few days here and there, sure — but full-time remote work? No thanks. There’s a lot more to work than spreadsheets and video calls, and if that means putting on real trousers and driving in, then so be it.
