Wednesday rant: Does working from home really work?

We’re living through very strange and upsetting times at present, with only a little light at the end of the tunnel. In all this darkness there must be some positives that can be drawn out of it and in my own personal view there are.

One of the most satisfying outcomes of being in isolation is that company bosses have been forced to allow us all to work from home. It has always been looked down upon and viewed as a luxury. A way for staff to put their feet up and take it easy.

The lockdown, I hope, will make managers realise that it can and does work. Everyone is connecting over Skype or Zoom and managing to remain engaged in their work. The upsides are huge. People are less stressed as there’s no commute to battle with. They also have more time in the day to be productive. Meetings are done in a quick video call rather than taking a whole day up travelling across the country in their Vauxhall Insignias or Ford Mondeos to meet over a coffee. Not to mention the personal benefits of having more time for your family and to exercise. When you add them all together you have a happier, less stressed, healthier workforce. It really is a win-win situation. This is without me even mentioning the rush hour disappearing, pollution levels dramatically reduced and no travel expenses.

I have personally worked from home my entire life. I dread ever having to change my career, don a suit and pack myself into a train twice a day. Personally, I really hope that this is a turning point in the mind-set of how we view our working practices. It really would create a future that we can all enjoy together.

Stay safe. #ThankYouNHS