Working from home - Why the 'second paragraph' is so important

Companies jumping to the financial positives of remote working are missing the point, argues CAE Technology Services boss Justin Harling

In the last few weeks there have been several announcements from companies extolling a move to flexible working arrangements. What has been more interesting is reading the second paragraph, and how many then continue their statements by also extolling the positive financial impact of being able to reduce office space and reducing cost.

My question is what the primary motivator for the changing working pattern is, with a concern that a perceived win-win misses the point, and the impact of the cultural changes being proposed.

A short-term scenario of everyone working from home is very different from a long-term hybrid option that puts people and communication under immense strain.

It appears to be factually accurate that short term productivity does not drop, in fact it probably increases with full time working from home, but this is at the considerable longer-term expense of work life balance and mental wellbeing.

All the tools made available greatly enhance the experience of being able to work together while remote, but there is no substitute to being able to collaborate in an office, where whole teams are physically together and can benefit from fully interactive human behaviours.

Blurring lines between work and home lives requires both sides of the equation. Work can encroach on home if the office is able to deliver an element of social interaction that positively reinforces what should be a balance.

Flexibility has its advantages and can support home life, but a commute can be a good way for a mind to work through the day and arrive at home having moved into the right place to enjoy a separated evening.

The second paragraph should be about the thought, systems and communication that will continuously be put into ensuring that balance of work between homes and offices is delivering the right environment for an organisation's people.

Missing this step and jumping to an assumed financial outcome will be massively counterproductive in the long term and therefore, I am fully behind a return to a flexible, supportive and collaborative office life.

Justin Harling is CEO of CAE Technology Services