We’ve been collecting employee opinions on Working From Home (WFH). We found two distinct experience groups since Covid restrictions began. And they represent the opposite ends of the spectrum.

The first group enthuse about WFH. Surveys show they:

• • have adopted online tools and have suitable equipment.
• • enjoy a home that physically supports their work tasks.
• • have social contact from family and friends.
• • are more efficient, especially due to saved commuting times.
• • are super effective, able to focus in a tranquil environment.

And it’s not only their opinion that suggests this last part is true:

According to a survey by Gartner, 88% of organisations around the world either encouraged WFH or made it mandatory since the onset of Covid. Of those companies, 85% report a measurable increase in productivity.

This group expressed they would like the option to visit a workplace occasionally, once Covid restrictions have been removed. Some suggest one day per week at the office would be ideal, with many suggested visiting monthly is enough. Visiting the office at the same time as their team members would be essential for most.

The second group are far from enthusiastic about WFH. They have struggled with the change. Their answers show they might:

• • be socially isolated, deeply missing the interaction provided by office life.
• • not have a home that physically supports the work they do.
• • struggle with family distractions.
• • find switching between home and work mental states difficult, overwhelmed by work issues during their free time.

This group clearly suffers from the axiom that Work From home inevitably also means Live At Work. In many cases this group has continued to visit the office when allowed to do so.

It is simple for employees to point to the physical factors which make WFH either appealing or horrific: home size, family situation, and work role are easily identified. However, it’s harder to pinpoint that some of us are just naturally more suited to WFH. In the Harvard Business Review Special Issue The New Work/ Life Balance, Nancy P. Rothbard identifies two clear working personality types: ‘Integrators’ and ‘Segmentors’:

• • Integrators enjoy mixing work and home life, both physically and through times of the day. They are happy doing laptop work on the sofa, and answer email during family time.
  
  
• • Segmentors need a physical and emotional divide between work and free time: for this group no matter how great their online tools are, or how perfect their home environment is for work, they’ll still feel the need to head into the workplace.