Letters

Whether WFH or WFO, it's about doing the job effectively

LETTERS: The Work From Home (WFH) phenomena has become the buzz word in the working environment during the Covid pandemic.

When the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced strictly nationwide in the early days of the pandemic last year, many government employees from non-essential sectors and private employees were instructed to WFH.

With good internet connectivity and accessibility many were able to WFH. And for the first time it came to their attention that it was possible to WFH without attending office physically.

It was indeed a revelation that life can still can go on even with the pandemic. The WFH order is to cut down on the movement of people in public areas. With limited movement of people, the Covid-19 virus can be controlled.

The WFH order was the only sure way of fighting the virus by staying home and observing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) by the health authorities. Now most departments and companies have opened their doors because the threat of the virus has been brought to a check and balance. Many are returning back to work with the SOP's.

Now there is a dilemma, whether to WFH or Work From Office (WFO) and many have opted to WFH because it has been done during the critical period of the pandemic and more so because the threat of the virus is still real and present.

The WFH order should be given as an option to those who are vulnerable and who are at risk of getting infected. However, sectors where their physical presence is required should be present at their work place.

Frontliners in the medical and emergency service sectors need to be in the forefront and their physical presence cannot be compromised. Educators such as teachers and lecturers have to be present physically for effective teaching and learning to take place in the classroom.

Virtual and on-line learning cannot match the face to face interaction in the classroom. At the end of the day, not many sectors can enforce the WFH policy effectively. Some want the WFH policy because they it is convenient and easy for them.

During the early part of the MCO last year many stayed home for more than four to five months and worked from home and so many grew contented to the new norm. It has become a habit that some have grown fond of.

There is no need to get up early in the morning and rush off to work, no traffic jams, no punching in for attendance, no fixed work time and a free dress code are some of the benefits of the WFH order.

Many have grown used to the WFH norm and it would be an uphill task to change the new norm to the old one.

Best advice, weigh your options carefully whether WFH or WFO, ultimately it's still about doing the job effectively.

Samuel Yesuiah

Seremban, Negri Sembilan


The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times

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