Hybrid work model has more pros than cons

Mother of four Diana Anak Lingan working from home as a sales and admin executive at her residence in Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kuala Lumpur, during the pandemic in 2020. — Filepic

Studies show working from home improves productivity

AS WE are transitioning into the endemic phase of Covid-19, many workplaces are adopting hybrid work models.

However some employers are insisting that employees must be physically present at the office.

Social media has been rife with people complaining about peak-hour traffic congestion. In fact, an Index Data report shows that traffic jams during peak hours in Kuala Lumpur are worse than pre-pandemic times.

As someone who has been working from home since the Covid-19 pandemic started, I was shocked to find highways congested during non-peak hours.

Several netizens have expressed their unhappiness with bosses who refuse to allow flexible work arrangements or work-from-home options. Which brings us to the question: Why?

Several studies in the past few months have shown that productivity and performance increase when employees have the option to work from home.

Without the hassle of commuting to work, there is lesser time wasted on the road.

From my own experience, I have saved at least three hours daily just by working from home.

Happy employees help boost morale and businesses can expect lower turnover rates.

Working from home can also decrease absenteeism and allow employers to tap into a larger talent pool when hiring.

You would think that these benefits would be an incentive for employers to at least allow flexible work arrangements, but not all of them agree.

While millennials and Gen Zs are more open to remote working, the general sentiment from older employers is that their employees will abuse work-from-home policies.

On the other hand, employees feel that their employers simply do not want to lose control over them, especially those known to micro-manage.

It cannot be denied that working from home isn’t always ideal, and not everyone wants to do so.

There are some who struggle to separate their personal and work lives, affecting their mental health. Besides that, a lot of people enjoy socialising in person with their colleagues.

Of course, you will have rogue employees who will abuse this policy, and some sectors still need workers to be on-site.

However, I believe that employers should still consider offering flexible work arrangements wherever it’s possible, especially for roles that do not require on-site presence.

When employees have this option, they have more freedom to plan their days, instead of submitting to hustle culture and burnout, which will affect their productivity and performance.

As a mother, I have decided that I will not apply for any job that does not offer at least a hybrid work model.

While remote working can be challenging, especially when you’re a working parent, I would not trade it for anything else.

I no longer have to wake up at an ungodly hour to get ready for work, or arrive home two hours after clocking-out because of bad traffic.

Working from home has allowed me to become a functional mother who is there for all my child’s milestones.

Besides that, I also have more time to indulge in hobbies such as reading, drawing and gaming.

Having more time for my child and myself has positively impacted my mental health.

As a happy mother and employee, I find myself contributing more to my workplace.

Collaboration has been amazing, despite working with international teammates from different time zones.

If our workplace of over 2,500 employees can function well with a hybrid work model, I don’t see why more employers in Malaysia shouldn’t take this leap of faith.

Refusing to offer the option of remote working because you do not trust your employees will surely discourage them.

I’ve heard plenty of stories from peers who job hunt to escape bosses who are constantly breathing down their necks unnecessarily.

Micro-managing will always drive your best talent away to better opportunities.

Shafiqah is a women and children’s rights activist who has worked with various NGOs that focus on issues of fundamental human rights. She believes in the importance of intersectionality and strives to lend her platform to silenced voices.

The views expressed here are the writer’s own.