If you survived the pandemic, then you already know that arguing about work-from-home versus onsite work is as stupid as arguing about whether it’s better to eat with a spoon or a fork. It’s no longer a debate, as we’ve seen the pros and cons of each arrangement. Companies have already figured out what works for them.
Work arrangement is always a welcome topic to discuss, but recently it became a popular topic (and through the dumbest way possible) because some “CEO” said that work-from-home makes you dumb. I’m no scientist, but I’ve been around enough smart people to know that this isn’t always true.
The work-from-home community was obviously outraged by the stunt—and rightfully so—because getting the opportunity to work from home is not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of discipline, skill, and preparation. And guess what? So does working from the office. So, let’s not act like one is superior to the other.
There are plenty of reasons why many would prefer working from home or the office. Let’s think about those who need to take care of their mental health, persons with disabilities, parents who need to care for their kids at home, those who need a dedicated workspace and equipment, those who need to collaborate face-to-face and socialize. Regardless of the reason, we all just want to be productive and put food on our tables. It just differs on where we do it. So, it doesn’t make sense for a company to antagonize a work arrangement just to promote a marketing agenda. They should’ve stuck to free pizzas.
Is the spoon better than the fork? I say it depends on what you’re eating. You don’t call the fork lazy when you’re having soup. A good company knows the pros and cons of each work arrangement. A great company knows how to take advantage of both worlds so their employees can thrive. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about where you work; it’s about how you work. And if your company can’t figure that out, maybe it’s not the work arrangement that’s dumb—maybe it’s the leadership.
