The Returner
Hugh Adams, aged 62, is employed by the charity Brain Tumour Research in Milton Keynes. Although he has the flexibility to work from home for up to two days a week, he chooses to commute to the office daily, taking a 25-minute drive.
“During the lockdown, I voluntarily decided to be the first to return to the office after experiencing remote work. Personally, I find that I am more productive in the office environment,” he explained.
Adams believes that an office setting allows him to focus better. He stated, “Everything around me in the office, the presence of my colleagues and the work-related items on my desk, reinforces the sense of work. At home, the environment is associated with other aspects of life.”
Furthermore, he believes that working in an office makes it easier to distinguish between work and personal life, with the commute playing a significant role in this separation. Adams finds that it helps him prepare for work and decompress after a day’s work.
During the lockdown, Adams often found himself returning to his home office to work after dinner, but this is something he no longer does.
He is currently the only employee in his office who chooses to come in five days a week. He highly values the effectiveness of face-to-face collaboration with colleagues. On a personal level, he feels that it is unfortunate that not everyone has returned, as he values the social aspect of work and considers it important in general.
The Hybrid
Mike Allen, aged 69, a former charity chief executive from Bracknell, now specializes in recruiting charity trustees.
“If I had to commute, I wouldn’t continue working. We all have the choice to work remotely or not. For me, it’s a hybrid approach that I determine as an employee,” Allen stated.
Working from home offers Allen several advantages, particularly when conducting meetings with potential candidates. He finds it easier to have well-equipped virtual meetings at home without background noise, which can be challenging for his slight hearing impairment. Additionally, maintaining a professional appearance is crucial for him as he persuades individuals to volunteer for charitable causes.
The team has a formal weekly video catch-up, which also includes lighthearted moments. They hold face-to-face quarterly meetings if desired, but it is not a necessity for everyone.
Allen mentions that he can arrange meetings with his charity clients by offering to meet them in his office, utilizing available space on specific days. The flexibility provided has made a significant difference in his work.
Furthermore, remote work has simplified the process of recruiting trustees. They no longer need to be physically present at the charity’s offices on a specific evening. Instead, they can join meetings conveniently through remote dial-in options. Allen finds it much easier to find suitable recruits with this approach.
The Refusenik
Abbi Barden, aged 26, works in social media marketing in London. She made the decision to leave her previous job partially due to the company’s insistence on returning to the office.
“Since May 2022, I have been working for a flexible, remote-first company, and I would never want to go back to the office. By eliminating the commute, I have gained approximately two hours every day. Previously, I would arrive home too exhausted to engage in personal activities, but now I have energy for socializing, rediscovering hobbies, and overall well-being,” Barden shared.
Barden also highlights the issue of ableism in traditional office environments, particularly for individuals like herself who are neurodivergent. She finds it challenging to concentrate amidst excessive noise and excessive social interaction drains her energy. Working from home allows her to control her environment and optimize her productivity.
From a financial perspective, Barden sees no benefit in commuting to an office. She questions why she should spend a significant amount of money each month for a less productive and more tiring experience, when she can save that money by effectively carrying out her job from home.
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