In the first post about Working from Home, I requested readers for photos of their home offices or workplaces.

I got some pictures. What amazes me is how clean all of them look (glancing at my own messy table). It’s either all of them are very tidy people, or they did some cleaning up before they took the pictures 😀

To all those who contributed, thanks!

More PFH (play from home) rather than WFH. The owner of this workplace is a dedicated nurse. During his free time, he loves gaming which is obvious. He even bought an extended monitor for his gaming laptop.
This is the workplace of a couple who are social distancing together. Not the required 6 feet distance but love knows no boundaries, right?
WFH takes on a new meaning with this set-up. Life goes on and so does work. If the studio is somewhere out there, set one up at home.
Homebound: Photos of Workplaces of Readers Who Work from Home
The sender asked to be given the chance to send this second photo. She added her “unused gym keyfob, thermometer just in case, JBL speakers to keep my home loud.”
Artist at work. Do not shift anything while she’s gone.
This is one of the neatest workplaces I’ve ever seen! This guy says that this is normal for him.
No table available? No problem. Just get yourself a good, sturdy laptop bed table.
Whether it’s coming up with a clear strategy or writing killer copy, having some greenery to look at while working can be helpful for the eyes. Just ignore that unfinished building.
So many screens available but she prefers the smallest one. That can work too.
This is a low glass coffee table in the living room which now serves as her working space. It can work if you’re flexible. Eat vegetables and legumes to prevent magnesium deficiency which are a cause of cramps, and pins and needles.
This doggo’s work is to keep his humans company while they earn the money to keep him well-fed. That’s what you call efficient work distribution.

Working from Home

Not all jobs are suitable with the work from home arrangement. But if you can, it really gets easier once you’ve settled into a routine.

The first thing that is required though is that you have adequate equipment (e.g., laptop or computer preferably with security mechanisms, and a fast internet connection).

For the Worker

Some of the advantages for the worker are as follows:

  • zero commute
  • flexible working hours
  • better work-life balance
  • more time with loved ones

What are some of the disadvantages?

  • boredom
  • unstable WiFi or slow or no internet connection (and the service provider is nowhere to be found)
  • the need for willpower and discipline (which is difficult for some people)
  • distractions because of home life
  • some matters are just better handled face to face, and have to be put on hold

For the Employer

To have this kind of working concept in your company requires preparation from management. You can’t just issue a statement without preparing everyone down the line first how this is supposed to be implemented.

These are some areas that have to be looked into:

  • cost for providing employees with the technological infrastructure
  • what is the best work tool for your virtual teams
  • how will monitoring of work be done, what kind of feedback channels do you need to set up
  • how do you secure data transfer
  • what do you do with employees whose jobs are not suitable for WFH

Arguably, there are two big advantages for employers.

First, they save on office space and utilities. Second, when hiring, they can cast a wider net and look for people who are not in the same geographic location.

No one knows exactly when the pandemic is going to be over. The economic and financial situations of the working world, including that of countries, are up in the air.

When this lockdown is part of our past, we can expect changes in work situations for many jobs. Whether WFH will be part of it is something to speculate about.

Read other Homebound articles for some tips on how to survive the social distancing gracefully. In the meantime, #stayathome.

Author

Annie is the Managing Editor of Let it B | MyBoysen Blog. An unrepentant workaholic, she runs this blog and her own company Talking Lions (https://talkinglions.com). She thrives on collaborating with people who are good at what they do, and working together with them to create something special. Annie learned interior styling while managing her own wholesale business in the Netherlands, importing high-end, handmade home furnishings to stock four outlets and a showroom in the country.

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