Many people believe new norm is where everyone works from home. I do not believe so and have written and even spoken about it too. Working from home is suitable for certain circumstances even before the pandemic and will continue to be suitable after the pandemic. No changes over there.
As much as more people may choose to work from home, it’s also quite true that more office space will be needed, just not the usual and typical offices we have last time. As for majority of everyone who used to work in office, get ready to continue working at the office. You can choose not to believe me yeah.
Just need to note that companies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter (yes all are online related which is the usual work from home ready companies) have all announced that staffs wishing to work from home may get lower pay. Especially those who stay at less expensive areas.
Article in reuters.com Google employees based in the same office before the pandemic could see different changes in pay if they switch to working from home permanently. As this is Google, it may set the trend for other large employers too.
Facebook and Twitter are cutting pay for remote employees who move to less expensive areas. A Google spokesperson said, “Our compensation packages have always been determined by location, and we always pay at the top of the local market based on where an employee works from.”
Screenshots of Google’s internal salary calculator seen by Reuters show that an employee living in Stamford, Connecticut – an hour from New York City by train – would be paid 15% less if she worked from home, while a colleague from the same office living in New York City would see no cut from working from home. Screenshots showed 5% and 10% differences in the Seattle, Boston and San Francisco areas. There are a lot more details in the Article in reuters.com
Productivity is better with Work From Home?
In an office, if I need to speak to 3 people for a quick decision, I walk over to their desks, discuss and we have a decision in minutes. Now imagine doing that with a message for a quick meeting via an online meeting app, waiting for response, sending the link, coming into the link, one said his internet speed not so good, another said his ‘awesome’ Microsoft Windows decided to update at the same time… All the best.
Meeting a VIP customer is better at home?
If I needed to meet a few VIP customers for a big contract, do I meet them at some cafes (hopefully it’s not noisy and no nosy people listening to my conversation) since I do not think the VIP customers would want to meet at the lobby area of my condo? Even if the lobby is a nice one, there would be people walking in and out all the time…
I am certainly sure they are not going to feel comfortable to speak in the living room of my landed home too. Let’s not even talk about having the meeting in my home office which is just a small room. Okay, perhaps I could drop by my VIP customers’ office instead. Oh… they have an office! (Yes, that’s what I meant, office space will be needed)
Whatever, as long as our skills are needed, we are safe
Regardless of working from home or from the office, if we have some skills and experience which not many other employees have, then our job will be safe. If our skills are easily replaceable, then it will be more likely that someone willing to follow the company policy of working from an office who will get our current job instead.
So, perhaps the real argument on whether working from home (which some prefer) or working from office (as most employers prefer) will depend on the person himself / herself. Be valuable, okay. Then, one gets to choose the place which one loves to work more versus being asked to choose between working in the office or working with some other employers. Cheers.
Love news like this and more? Sign up for daily investment news updates. Alternatively, Follow me on Telegram here.
Please LIKE kopiandproperty.com FB page to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else, follow me on Twitter here.
Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)
Next suggested article: Why office demand new norm will be back to the norm
