LETTER: Working from home (WFH) is a boon for some and a bane for others. The benefits accrue to employers and employees in the public and private sectors.
Employers get cost-savings, especially in electricity, workspace, overheads, overtime and real estate costs.
Employees will save money from not having to commute and having their meals outside.
WFH means one can start and end the day as one chooses, as long as the work is completed. This schedule benefits those who have families.
But not all employees have the same advantages. While some have workspace and facilities at home, there are those who work in cramped rooms and can't access the Internet.
Those working from home may also experience burnout.
Both groups miss the office interaction and chance to vent their frustrations. So their stress level increases, leading to mental and physical health problems.
It will help if relief for this group is provided in the 2021 Budget in terms of better workspaces, workstations and ergonomic furniture.
Tax relief should be considered for employers who provide equipment and technology for employees working from home.
The government and private sector should provide incentives or facilities to employees working from home because they save costs for their company.
WFH will be the new norm, even after the Covid-19 curve is flattened or a vaccine is available. The new norm requires approaches that will boost productivity and improve people's quality of life.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times