Question

How is the increasingly working from home arrangement due to COVID19 changing how, when, where, and what work is done? What opportunities and challenges face managers and employees?

Answer 1

Due to COVID 19 pandemic we've seen a lot of changes the day to day activities of people, the way they think, the way they do work, priorities, economies, work culture, pressure etc. COVID 19 is a landmark event in the 21st century. The most significant change which it bought in our lives is that it isolated people at home with no personal contact(physical), so the work was being done from home. It was called work from home.

So the companies started using online platforms for giving work and taking reports. For example companies started using Google Meet, Zoom app etc. for connecting to their employees. Usually, the work was carried out at office hours but at home, but sometimes it got extended too. Most people are working from their home and there is no physical contact with employees. The kind of work carried out by companies is mostly based on the fact that it can be done online for example all work except manufacturing.

This kind of work culture gave new opportunities to managers and employees they can become well versed with the today's technology which was hitherto unused or underused. It bought efficiency in using technology by emplyoees. It gave new experience to management of managing work without physical presence.

The most challenging part of this was technological glitches. There were lot of technological and connection issues. Plus it was a difficult time for people who were hitherto away from technology. Learning new things were difficult. Adding to this the low morale and atmosphere of fear due to COVIND 19 added to some challenges.