Mobile devices and technology have enabled many of us to work through a pandemic. During this time, many of us moved from our offices/classrooms to our kitchen tables, spare bedrooms, or if we were lucky, home offices. But what will happen next?
By the end of 2024, the International Data Corporation (IDC) expects mobile workers will account for nearly 60% of the total U.S. workforce. This is a significant percentage of the workforce! I find this very interesting and can see how there are benefits for most. However, what does that mean for those whose work can not be done remotely? I wonder if somehow this will create an imbalance or even two classes of employees.
I am curious to hear if you work in a position that could be done fully remote, partially remote or requires you to be fully on site and how you think this will affect how you work. What benefits and what barriers do you foresee?
I myself work in a position that can be done partially remote, which I really enjoy as I like the freedom of working from home to concentrate on some individual tasks but also appreciate working on site with my stakeholders to work through issues and training programs.
I believe COVID-19 and the workforce has presented us with so much information that has allowed us to see that we truly are able to work from home, which I think is an extremely valuable lesson that I hope the workforce remembers forever. It allows for employees to have a great work-life balance, allows for those who are parents to have flexibility, and more. Further, companies such as Zoom, Google, Jabber, Microsoft, and more have created so many improvements within their softwares that allow for almost seamless work-from-home opportunities in terms of connection.
When I worked for a university, I worked for a year and a half remotely due to COVID-19, and I found it to be great – I loved the work-life balance and found that I was staying connected with my coworkers. Now, I work in a mental health hospital and have a hybrid model, where I am now finding it challenging when I work at home, as I am back into the “swing of it” at work onsite. While I find it challenging, I prefer the hybrid model – especially if it is more flexible for those who need it.
I used to have a position where I was required to be on site every day, even in the worst snow storm because I was running an operation. In the midst of the pandemic, I started a new job where we were working from home full time. Since the beginning of September, we started a hybrid model where we work 3 days in the office and 2 days from home. Since working in the office, I found it hard to concentrate because I work in an open office. My desk is located at a high traffic area and next to my manger’s office. Good thing we can wear headphones when we work so I can focus. I plan my work from home days around my virtual meetings. I find it easier to have virtual meetings at home because it is quieter. The benefits of working in the office is being able to ask questions and receive feedback immediately. Since I am new to the organization, I am able to bond with my colleagues.
As elementary school teachers, we are required to be on-site right after the first lockdown. I was able to experience teaching the full-online, blended, and in-person classes. For my little kindergarten and Grade 1 learners, I’d say the value of face-to-face is massive and irreplaceable, just because the quality of teacher/ peer interaction they get from zoom meetings is not even close to the rich exchange they get in classrooms. Some of the kids were easily distracted during online class time and isolated from their peers. Teaching online also means that I couldn’t prepare as many hands-on activities, which is essential for young learners, since the resources they have at home are limited. I found myself spending way more time looking for suitable digital resources. There’s no reason to question the potential of remote learning in other circumstances, but for early childhood education, I think we need to be careful with it.
COVID has proven that education has the ability to go fully remote, however, it is less than ideal for a majority of students and teachers. I do realize that it works really well for a number of students and some prefer it face-to-face, though. As a teacher who is very familiar with integrating technology into my practice, I originally thought that remote learning would be a breeze and that I would enjoy it. Now I am so fearful that we may have to go back online in the near future. I didn’t feel nearly as connected to my students, and planning effective online lessons for grade 2 was really tough. I know that many students and their families were also struggling for a variety of reasons such as missing the social aspect of school, feeling disconnected in the learning process, juggling childcare, and balancing work while supporting their childs’ learning.
I ran into an interesting situation last week. We are currently required to go into the office one day a week. I had scheduled my day to be Thursday. As Thursday approached, I had a few learning tech consultations scheduled by instructors. I ended up choosing to work at home that day because it would be a struggle to work efficiently and effectively in the office. Offering our consultations on Zoom has been MUCH easier and now that we have created at-home environments to support this, it would have been more difficult to do my job at the office. So while I do miss the social aspect of seeing my colleagues in person, I have come to work more efficiently at home and be more productive. I do hope that there will continue to be flexibility to do so in the future.
We’ve found the same thing with regards to meeting stakeholders AND internal department meetings – it is SO MUCH easier using digital technologies than it EVER was in the office trying to get a group together in a large room. I’ve noticed a number of colleagues attend meetings from their decks, poolside or even while walking around and I love it!
I agree there are benefits to both. When I’ve worked from home I have found I forget to take breaks and forgot to switch gears at the end of the day, however it’s very productive. With that said, the benefits of collaboration and brainstorming are, in my opinion, more challenging to duplicate in a remote environment. I believe a more balanced approach would be beneficial. One that honours choice and specific tasks.