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HostWelcome back to Work Life. Today I'm joined by Doctor Paul Hayes, who has spent the last five years studying remote work. Paul, a lot of companies are now asking people to come back to the office. Is working from home over?
PaulI wouldn't say it's over, but it's definitely changing. What we're seeing now is the hybrid model becoming the norm. In our latest survey, around sixty percent of office workers said they spend two or three days a week at home.
HostAnd why do people prefer that to working from home full time?
PaulMainly because of the social side. Many people told us they felt isolated, especially younger employees who live alone. They also said they were learning less, because you pick up a lot just by listening to experienced colleagues.
HostSo what are the main benefits of the days at home?
PaulFocus, above all. People consistently report that they get more concentrated work done at home, with fewer interruptions. And of course, there's the commute. The average worker in our study saved almost an hour a day.
HostSome managers worry that people at home aren't working as hard.
PaulThat's a common concern, but the evidence doesn't really support it. Productivity tends to depend more on how clearly tasks are defined than on where people sit. The real problem we found was something different: people at home often find it hard to switch off. They answer emails late at night, and that can lead to burnout.
HostAny advice for our listeners?
PaulSet clear boundaries. Have a fixed finishing time and, if possible, a separate space for work, even just a corner of a room. And when you are in the office, use that time for meetings and collaboration, not for tasks you could do at home.
