Can we please end the WFH debate?
The traditional workweek no longer suits, so let’s end the work from home debate, argues LinkedIn’s APAC head of channel sales, Lara Brownlow.
With the economy tightening, there is renewed energy in the “return to the office” debate. After reading Sean Cummins’ comments on Mumbrella this week, I want to share a different perspective on the returning to the office.
The traditional workweek, established a century ago when men went to work and women stayed home, no longer suits our current reality. Both men and women have been juggling work and family responsibilities, leading to immense stress, and causing many women to leave the workforce for decades.
There are undeniable advantages to both working from home and working from the office. The office fosters collaboration and allows for mentoring, while in-person interactions with my team leave me feeling energised. Going to the office can be compared to going to the gym—it may be challenging to find motivation, but the benefits are rewarding. On the other hand, working from home enables me to be more productive, dedicate additional time to focused work, and be present for my family without the daily commute. During the pandemic, I saved 720 hours by not commuting in one year, allowing me to spend valuable time with my young children during their formative years. Both approaches have their merits, and that is why I strongly advocate for a hybrid model that benefits society. It is disheartening to witness the polarising arguments favouring either only working from home or only working from the office.
This is exactly the point Sean missed, as did all of those arguing about his bravery and courage. It is not courageous to argue a position as the founder and CEO of a business, meaning your company isn’t about to sack you for voicing a different point of view.
It is courageous to argue for flexibility that benefits all genders, that makes work-life balance better, that advocates for people to be able to be themselves, safely, in the workplace. Cummins & Partners could learn a lot from that.
My wife works from home (occasional office days) and I work close to home (5 minute drive) with roasters days and great flexibility. We can pick up the kids, cook dinner and live a normal life. This story makes great points either way. As always the answer is somewhere in the middle. I recently thought of changing jobs for more money, but the lack a f flexibility and extra travel time did not add up to an overall benifit. These things matter to the modern 2 income family.
Thank you for being a voice to everyone who thinks like this!
I am tired of the bully corporations, CEOs and others who seemingly only want people back in the office so they can control them or so they can justify their long term leases on the big city buildings.
If someone can’t be trusted to work from home, then that is on that person and them alone as they will suffer due to their output. Blanket bringing everyone to the office, enforcing hybrid, etc. Just doesn’t work for everyone and never will.
I encourage all the other Mum’s out there who are thriving with working from home to be strong and stand up for yourself. Don’t be pushed into working from the office if you aren’t as productive.
Thank you again for writing this article.
Advertising salaries haven’t kept up with inflation. You barely get paid more today, compared to yesteryear. I was on $220K as a first timer CD back in 2005, it went a LOT further then.
It’s no wonder talent isn’t coming into this industry, the hours are still long, and add the mass layoffs/lack of stability and how this manifests into daily pressure and politics, if you can keep your job.
I believe being flexible is the only way the industry can afford to add value for their employees. If you value your staff (I’m certain Sean does btw), then you need to value what’s important to them. Or give them blood money if they have to go against their wishes, to make the sacrifice a fair trade. Bests
I don’t believe salaries have anything to do with your work location
If your employer thinks you are worth hiring regardless of where you work, but thinks you are worth more to him if working one way than the other, then of course it is related to salary. Up to you to convince him otherwise, if you can.
It’s tiring reading the cliches about new ideas and beautiful interactions happening face to face. Since when has this industry been known as agile and innovative? Is your lowly paid junior going to be motivated by that?
It’s a great irony that most people feel the need to work from home to get work done. The implication being most workplaces are inefficient.
If they are inefficient, perhaps our trusted leaders could think more about a truly productive work environment (and even consider consulting research on this) vs corny off sites and free booze.
Thank you for the article. It’s common sense. My wife works equally hard and so we have to divide children responsibilities. Hybrid is a no brainer. Especially in an economical climate where both parents working has become non-negotiable.
Spot on. This is all about flexibility and employers being open to the best situation for each employee based on their life circumstances. Too often this whole “debate” makes it out to be a binary choice of in the office vs at home.
Also this idea that you should have a different persona at work I find crazy. I suggest anyone thinking that should spend some time researching what happens when humans pretend to be something they are not…..
Great articulation Lara, couldn’t agree more.
Finding and retaining talent in the sector continues to be one of the top challenges for businesses. We recently did a test, we put out the same role that was remote v a role that wasn’t remote. We got 2700 applications for the remote role v 70 for the non remote role.
Flexibility is here to stay if businesses want to secure the best talent.
Nothing better than someone who asks to end the debate while providing a counter argument.
Lara’s argument did just end the debate. Case closed!
yep…let’s end the debate by agreeing that the way I’m suggesting is the only right way!
I agree with her tbh, but I also agree in market forces and freedom of movement and if an employer thinks it benefits them to have all remote or all in the office then they have a right to push for that. likewise employees can choose to join or stay a fully remote or a fully in the office employer
Agree.
The market will indeed decide this debate, instead of the dogma on both sides. It’s also not a binary choice (and in fairness, I don’t actually think Sean was being as black and white as what some suggest).
Some companies will have office environments that people will want to attend more regularly. Some won’t.
Some will pay more to have teams in the office, as they believe this extra salary cost is worth the investment. Some won’t.
Some job seekers will limit their pool of potential employers by insisting on a certain number of days at home. Some won’t.
Some roles require less social interaction and collaboration. Many do.
But, I would say that 25 year old me would’ve loved WFH. I would have argued this is the “best for me”. But then I would’ve missed out on all of the opportunities to learn from more senior peers in non-formal meeting environments. This is when the important stuff often happens. I just hope that people appreciate this is the case (sometimes), instead of just thinking of the what suits the ‘now me’ best.
I believe the CEO vs. employee desperation about in-office vs. remote work concepts will eventually decide the market trend going forward. If a CEO is too keen to monitor / micro-manage his employees 5 days a week still fantasizing himself/herself living in stone age, let him risk that and witness some of his great / dedicated / introvert talent deciding to switch jobs. Likewise, if an experienced hardworking introvert employee has tasted the WFH era, he/she will continue to improve his/her skills and search for remote roles until he/she succeeds. Desperation.
On the other hand, If a CEO understands the value of flexibility, decides to stop living in the outdated pre-COVID mindset, adapts to the new reality, and honors the introverts / extroverts science, the company will eventually thrive attracting amazing talent.
Let the nature dictate and drive the reality of job market. The losers CEOs will continue to complain about brain drain of great talent to flexible companies and will continue to blame the country about not enough talent instead of changing himself/herself and adapting to the new reality.
Notice it’s all the old fashioned men calling it.
I wouldn’t hire any person who didn’t ask about hybrid working. It’s the new way of working, plain and simple. If the company you’re interviewing at doesn’t offer it in some form, run as fast as you can.
Agree hybrid works for me and my team. I surf in the morning before work instead of travel. I’m a beast of energy for the rest of the day at work which is from my home office. Saves me 10 hours of stressful commute.
I do not live for lining coffee shops pockets. Moccona does me fine.
Well said Lara. A modern, inclusive perspective. We need both – Enabling flexibility empowers people to do their best work, live their best lives, and builds the moments that matter for a thriving culture.
There are benefits for both, and we need to focus on output and outcomes.
Dinosaurs, kindly get in the bin.
Thanks Rosie!
So well said, thank you!
#nailedit
Absolutely agree with this. Well done Lara!
A voice of reason.
Thank you for your perspective. I also appreciated Sean’s. There are reasons I would want to go back into the office for a few days a week, but to be able to be a different person is not one of them. Why would anyone intentionally want to have two different or more personas? Is that something we should be encouraging?
No it is not. It is not healthy to pretent to be something you are not.
Spot on.
Totally out of touch! Talking about traditional gender roles like it’s 2010.
I can be a woman today, a man tomorrow and non binary the next day.
My children are free to identify as whatever they want.
We all might identify as bears and forage in the back yard for food and then sleep in our den.
Till a work place is willing to accomodate me – I’m wfh 100%
Sometimes a worker is worth more from home. Sometimes worth more the office. Sometimes it makes no difference. Sometimes it’s too hard to gauge. It’s just horses for courses.
Their us no debate. Productivity and culture are better served when employees are in the off ce 5 days a week. Debate over
So helpful George…great use of sources to back up your position too.
Bravo!
Well said Lara, my sentiments exactly.