[Reporter’s Eye] How was working from home for a year?

A year has passed since the COVID-19 has bled into people’s daily lives.

 

The pharmaceutical industry also has faced big changes and working from home was one the biggest changes.

 

Although it was forcefully introduced, the work from home system, unlike the beginning of the outbreak, became a norm—the office staffs have been working from home and the sales at site for a long time.

 

After spending some time to get used to it, the companies are now seeing some positive side of the system.

 

A team lead at a multinational pharmaceutical company commented, “The company struggled a bit in the beginning, but the work productivity has improved significantly compared against pre-COVID-19.

 

Now we are rather worried about post-COVID-19.” Of course, there is an opposite side to it.

 

Another company’s team lead said, “Because work tends have its inertia, the high productivity would be maintained for a while.

 

But for a long-term, working from home would not help.

 

There are definitely limitations in creativity and team work.” Both sides are right.

 

The evaluation on working from home would vary depending on the company and team’s ambiance, workload, and position within the organization.

 

Also the evaluation would be based on the work habit, distance from the office, and private issues like child care.

 

Surely, the problem has no definite answer.

 

The U.S., already preparing for the end of COVID-19 before South Korea, is taking interesting stance.

 

Recently, major companies in the U.S.

 

are having heated dispute over whether to continue work from home after the end of COVID-19.

 

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings apparently called work from home a “pure negative.” Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook sees the outcome of working from home was impressive.

 

And other companies are also contemplating on the pros and cons of working from home.

 

South Korea should also consider the life after COVID-19.

 

As the vaccination has been initiated, the end of COVID-19 is seemingly getting closer.

 

The government anticipates achieving the herd community in coming November.

 

Around early next year, the COVID-19 pandemic that has been draining the South Koreans over a year would finally mark the end.

 

Also the time is coming for the pharmaceutical company to make a decision on either to continue working from home or go back to the office.

 

Working from home was never an option in the beginning.

 

Pharmaceutical companies were forced to work from home as the outbreak spread nationwide.

 

But the companies can decide to stop working from home.

 

And the decision has to be quick and bold.

 

They should avoid the confusion they caused in the beginning at all cost.

 

If some of the companies decide to continue working from home, they would need to be well-prepared.

 

A simple guideline would not cut it.

 

A well-designed remote working system should be established and organizational culture and personnel evaluation system should be entirely reformed.

 

They should be aware the work from home guideline from the bygone days ordering ‘only the essential staffs to report to office’ has a clear limitation.