Many people, just a few months ago, believed their jobs couldn’t be done anywhere else than in the office – where they’ve always been done successfully before. But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation, millions of people had no choice but to work from home.
As we continue to move through the coronavirus pandemic, millions still work remotely with little hope of returning to the office anytime soon. Though working from home started as a temporary solution to slow the spread of coronavirus, it may become the new normal way to work.
Challenges of Work-From-Home Structures
Workers who don’t have a desk at home, likely use their kitchen tables and couches as temporary workspaces. Though kitchen tables and couches may seem to function just fine as workspaces, they actually cause workers unnecessary strain and fatigue. Working from the couch can worsen a person’s posture immediately by putting strain on his or her back and neck. Kitchen chairs, though slightly better than couches, also provide little back and neck support. So, workers may struggle to work from home successfully, if they’re not comfortable in their workspace.
But having an ergonomic workspace makes a huge difference in creating a productive work environment at home. By balancing comfort and support, ergonomic office furniture can help workers to be productive and produce higher quality work.
Another key component to working successfully at home is a reliable, fast internet. But not everyone has access to broadband internet service at their homes. According to the Pew Research Center, racial minorities, older adults, and those who live in rural areas are less likely to have internet access at home. In fact, only three-quarters of American adults have broadband internet service at home. And one-in-five American adults rely solely on their smartphones for internet connectivity.
What Employers Are Doing to Help
Shopify is helping their employees transition smoothly into remote work by offering them a $1,000 stipend for office supplies to equip their home workspaces. While employees were asked to take home their laptops, monitors, and keyboards, they were able to purchase things such as new office desks and ergonomic chairs with their stipends.
Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and Google have also taken preventative measures against coronavirus, asking their office employees to work from home. Facebook offered free Portal video chat devices to employees who needed them for remote work.
Companies, large and small, are prolonging their work-from-home policy. While some predict their employees may return by the end of the summer, others believe it won’t be safe to do so until early next year. But this isn’t just to ensure the safety of their workers. Work-from-home structures may be the strategic move needed by many companies to cut costs during the economic slump brought on by COVID-19.
But offices will not be completely abandoned. Once it is safe to do so, many companies may transition into a remote-friendly work environment, encouraging workers to work from home at least few days a week.
