When it comes to productivity in the workplace, the debate between working from home and working in-office has been ongoing for years. However, recent shifts in wisdom and demands from businesses to return to the office have amplified this discussion.
A woman on TikTok has provided a clear explanation as to why she believes working from home is more productive, and her perceptions align with available data on the subject.
Why Working from Home is More Productive
For a long time, the prevailing data supported the idea that working from home was the better option. But newer studies have challenged this notion, causing many businesses to insist on in-office work, even as employees express their reluctance to comply.
Unfortunately, these mandates have not been successful. A recent survey by FlexJobs revealed that over half of the respondents knew someone who had quit or was planning to quit their job due to the return-to-office rule.
TikTok creator @brandnamecereal sheds light on the reasons behind the discontent among employees.
“Performing Availability” and Constant Interruptions
In her video, she recalls the stark contrast between sitting at her desk all day at the office and sitting at her home desk. She explains that the main difference is being forced to “perform availability” while dealing with constant interruptions in the office.
She mentions that she is able to accomplish the same amount of work from home, but she utilizes the little pockets of time between tasks differently. Instead of socializing with coworkers or using her phone, she takes care of personal chores like unloading the dishwasher.
She acknowledges that her use of company time for personal tasks may not be well-received by bosses or executives. However, she argues that those short periods of waiting for emails or other tasks would have been unproductive regardless.
Furthermore, she notes that chatting with coworkers is not productive either. Avoiding interruptions and personal chores helps her maintain consistent productivity and respond to work in a timely manner.
This resonates with me as I think about my brother, who is required to go to the office twice a week. He attends the same Zoom meetings he could attend from home and is constantly interrupted, resulting in him having to bring work home in the evenings rather than helping his wife with their kids.
The Complex Nature of Productivity Data
Although recent studies suggest a decline in productivity for remote work, it is crucial to consider the broader context.
An influential study by economists at MIT and UCLA found an 18% decrease in productivity when working from home. However, this study focused solely on data-entry workers in India, making it an inadequate representation of all types of remote work. Creative tasks, such as writing and video production, cannot be easily quantified like data entry.
Furthermore, Stanford University economics professor Nick Bloom, who has studied productivity for many years, argues that the productivity declines seen in recent data are partially due to management procedures that have not yet adapted to remote work. Similar concerns have been raised in studies critical of remote work.
Productivity and Profitability
Beyond productivity, the numbers show a positive impact on overall labor productivity growth and profitability with remote work.
Bloom highlights that US labor productivity growth, which remained at 1.2% from 2015 to 2020, increased to 1.5% since the start of the pandemic in 2020. This increase is seen as remarkable given the challenges faced during this time, especially considering the decades-long decline in US productivity.
From a profit perspective, the claim that in-office work is more productive simply does not make sense. Remote work eliminates significant overhead costs for businesses, such as leases, utility bills, and equipment expenses associated with maintaining an office. It is illogical to suggest that eliminating these costs would not result in substantial financial benefits.
Some speculate that the push to return to the office is driven by corporations heavily invested in commercial real estate. These corporations, which essentially own every company and business in America, hold significant lobbying power over governments. Given the lack of compelling arguments against remote work and acknowledgement of this factor by entities like NASDAQ, these claims are not purely conspiracy theories.
Additionally, remote work offers savings beyond overhead costs. Multiple studies have shown reduced turnover, easier recruitment, and the ability to hire globally, resulting in significant cost savings in employee retention, recruitment, and wages.
While CEOs and other entities may demand a return to in-office work, their justifications do not withstand scrutiny. Workers have made their reluctance clear, and with a generally disgruntled workforce, business leaders should seriously consider these factors.
John Sundholm is a news and entertainment writer who covers pop culture, social justice, and human interest topics.
