Home office during the pandemic: is this model here to stay?

Home office has always been a very popular work model around the world, but not as widely adopted in some regions. With the pandemic, however, it has become a highlight for many companies. In fact, it is the only way for many businesses to continue operating amid social isolation .

As much as this work model brings enormous benefits, this change was not easy for many people. Many companies were not prepared to operate remotely and had to adapt quickly.

For professionals, the process was not easy either. Many people were not used to working from home and faced several difficulties.

Lack of concentration and low productivity were some of the biggest problems reported by many, especially for those who had children at home.

However, there is no denying that home office is here to stay. Many organizations have already stated that they will adopt it permanently in their routine. Or, at least, as part of the employees' workday.

There is no escaping this trend. But will everyone adapt to it?

We have been living this new routine for over a year now and, in that time, we have learned some tips about the best areas to work from home. In addition to how to be more productive in your day-to-day life.

Many companies and professionals have rediscovered themselves through home office. So, how about learning a little more about its characteristics, benefits and how to adapt to this model?

Come with us! Check out the topics we will cover:

• What is home office?
• What is the difference between home office and teleworking?
• What are the advantages of home office?
• What are the home office trends?
• Is home office for me?
• Tips for being productive in a home office.

Let's go!

What is home office?

Home office, or “home office” in Portuguese, is a work model in which professionals can carry out their activities from their homes. In other words, it allows work to be done away from the office, without the need to travel.

Whether part-time or full-time, remote work, as it is also known, can be carried out anywhere. This has led to it being widely used by companies during social isolation .

To achieve this, companies had to provide all the necessary equipment so that their employees could work remotely, from computers and monitors to even work desks and chairs, depending on the case.

After all, many professionals did not have adequate space in their homes to work, and had to adapt. In fact, the change to home office led many to invest in renovations in their homes, creating offices where they could carry out their activities.

A report released by GetNinjas confirmed this demand. According to their data, between April and November 2020, 2.8 million service requests were made. An increase of 75% compared to the same period last year.

In Brazil, home office emerged in 1999, but it was only years later that our CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) included it as a type of work.

Since then, around 7 million Brazilians have been working from home, according to a study carried out by IPEA .

What is the difference between home office and teleworking?

But aren't home office and teleworking the same thing? This is a very common confusion, but the truth is that they are different.

The main difference between working from home and working from home is in legal terms. In other words, working from home is not covered by our legislation. And this makes all the difference in terms of the rights of professionals.

But don’t worry! We won’t write that “legalese”, but rather simplify it so that you can understand it clearly.

Teleworking also refers to work carried out outside the company. However, since the Labor Reform came into effect, this modality has been included in our CLT.

Since then, a specific regime has been defined for all companies that wish to adopt it. This includes all the rules on workday control, overtime and much more, which were established for the signing of the employment contract.

As for home office, there is no law that defines similar rules. In practice, this means that the rules are the same as those for in-person work, but without it being considered a specific model that needs to be stated in the employment contract.

The latest change we had was during the pandemic, through a Provisional Measure. Some changes were made to our legislation temporarily regarding teleworking rules, so that companies could have greater control over remote work.

What does this change for employees?

The consequences of this difference for employees are quite clear. All those who work from home will not be covered by a law in our CLT.

As a result, these professionals will be subject to the normal laws of a formal employment contract. Let's use an example to make this clearer.

In a specific article of the teleworking law, it is defined that companies must provide whatever is necessary for their employees to be able to work from home, from technological equipment to adequate infrastructure.

All of these materials are the sole responsibility of the company when working remotely, which is not the case when working from home. However, everything can be agreed upon in advance between the parties if the possibility of working from home is defined early on.

What are the advantages of home office?

Home office has become very popular among many professionals, who have seen the advantages of this work model in their daily lives. The main advantages include, by far, greater flexibility, time savings and, above all, a better quality of life.

Working from home means having greater flexibility in your work schedule.

Here, we are not saying that you can do whatever you want and ignore all time rules. But rather, that the clock can become your great friend.

For those who are lazy, they can sleep a few more minutes without having to get up early to get to work. And at the end of the day, they will be home, without having to deal with rush hour traffic.

No stress from taking crowded public transport, hearing horns or waiting in long lines. The time saved by this commute is huge! This means you have more time to spend with your family, friends or do something you enjoy.

Those who ended up eating more junk food when eating out can also take advantage of the moment to dedicate themselves to having a healthier diet at home.

All of this provides a better quality of life for everyone. Although many people may end up working more from home, there is no denying that the physical and mental strain is less.

Not to mention that our pockets will also be grateful, without having to spend money on transportation and food.

What are the disadvantages of working from home?

Like other work models, working from home also has its disadvantages. Among them, difficulty concentrating, a feeling of isolation and a lack of routine are some of the most common.

Even for those who live alone , concentrating while working from home can be quite difficult. Especially if you don't have an office or space dedicated exclusively to work.

After all, we are in the comfort of our homes, with our bed, sofa, kitchen, and everything we like at our side. For those who have children, this difficulty is even greater with the little ones at home, wanting to play and receive attention.

If they are not managed well, they can have an even greater impact on your work routine. You may have difficulty waking up earlier, balancing your responsibilities with your children, or even being stuck in the office without managing your working hours properly.

Still, the feeling of loneliness was also a huge problem reported by many, especially during this pandemic period that we are living in.

In a study conducted by the Ipsos Institute, around half of Brazilians stated that they were often affected by feelings of loneliness. We are naturally sociable beings, and the inability to have contact with other people during the last year has seriously affected many people.

What are the home office trends?

The vast majority of companies have been forced to migrate their business model to home office. But is it really the best option for everyone? This is one of the biggest discussions seen lately.

A recent study conducted by the Institute of Applied Economic Research listed the feasibility of working from home in several countries. Among those analyzed, Brazil ranked 45th, a relatively low position.

As justification, the professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the Mauá Institute of Technology, Afonso Braga, explains the reason.

According to the expert in an interview with Quero Bolsa, there are areas that are more favorable for home office and may be true trends for the future. Among them, administrative jobs such as law, accounting and finance are some of the most promising.

Overall, the technology sector, because it does not require much interaction with other people, is also favorable to home office. The vast majority of its functions can be performed remotely without any problems, with the same or even greater concentration.

Others, such as sales, marketing or business-oriented areas, face greater difficulties when migrating to this work model. The human exchange, so important for their functioning, makes many entrepreneurs prefer to keep their businesses physical rather than digital.

Despite this difference, the outlook for the future of home office in the country is very positive. In a study carried out by FGV , the expectation is that, after the pandemic, we will see an increase of around 30% in the number of professionals working from home.

Is home office for me?

In addition to not being ideal for certain professions, home office is not ideal for everyone. Not everyone can adapt to this work model. To find out if home office is for you, it is important to thoroughly analyze your personality and preferences, and whether they correspond to this modality.

First of all, working from home requires a lot of discipline and organization. The comfort of our home can be one of the biggest reasons for relaxation for many professionals.

After all, who has never wanted to take a nap after lunch? Imagine the temptation if we have our bed right next to us.

Another thing to be aware of is loneliness, especially if you live alone. When you work from home, you will spend more time at home without being in contact with colleagues or other people.

Think: are you willing to do this? Are you sure that you won’t have a problem with this new routine?

Finally, one of the biggest challenges for those who face this type of work is related to technology. There is no way to do without a variety of equipment and tools to be able to work from home.

And, depending on the role you play, you will need to learn how to use a series of systems in order to perform your duties. If you are not very adept at technology and its advances, you may have a hard time adapting to this new routine.

Now, if you have analyzed all these points and seen that you can fit into the home office, the next step is to know how to be productive when working from home.

Tips for being productive while working from home

There are several distractions in our homes that can compromise our productivity at work. This is especially true in large families or families with children who require constant attention.

Whatever the case, we have put together some tips that can help you work from home without having to give up anything. Check it out!

Invest in a suitable environment for home office

The first tip for being productive working from home is to invest in a suitable space.

The ideal would be to have a specific room to turn into an office. This way, you could have a place that is just for you and exclusively for professional purposes. Many people even decorate it with more professional furniture, leaving the comfort exclusively for the bedroom or living room.

Now, this isn’t always possible. Many small apartments don’t have more than one bedroom, and tenants have to improvise. Even so, it’s possible to come up with creative options in smaller spaces.

A simple workbench in the corner of your bedroom or living room may be enough for you to work. Buy a comfortable chair to complement the space.

Work in a quiet place

Who has never been stressed by some noise when they had to perform a task? At home, we are subject to several factors that can make our home less silent.

From the noise from the street itself, especially if you live in a house or apartment on the first floors of the building, to inside the environment, if you share the space with other people .

Those who have difficulty concentrating with any noise need to invest in a place that is less affected by noise. In the case of sounds coming from outside, there are excellent windows that can muffle them, which you can install in your home.

If you live with other family members, talk to them and ask them to try to make as little noise as possible during work hours. If you have children, also tell them that playtime will be later.

Pay attention to the lighting

This is an item that many people are unaware of. However, lighting can make all the difference in your concentration while working from home.

Natural lighting may seem like the best option for your workspace at first glance. In fact, it can be great, but depending on the day, it can even make it difficult for you to see your computer or other objects.

Not to mention that when the afternoon or evening arrives, you will need to turn on the switches. For example, yellowish light fixtures can provide a greater sense of comfort, while lighter ones are more commonly used in offices.

It is essential to have lighting that is consistent with your home office work environment. Firstly, so that you do not strain your vision. And of course, to avoid setbacks.

Create a routine with household chores

It's not easy to work and take care of the house alone. Therefore, one tip that can help you with this balance is to create a routine.

Make a list of all the tasks that are important and mandatory outside of work, such as cooking. Then, set a time when you will do it. Either during your lunch break or in the evening, so that you can prepare for the next day.

This way, you won't mix up your household chores in the middle of your workday, having time organized to do everything you need to do.

If possible, take periodic breaks while working from home.

Any activity carried out for a long period of time and without interruption can be harmful to our health. The same applies to work.

Of course, some tasks require constant effort. However, it is still important to try to take regular breaks to relax. This could be a simple stretch or walking around your house for a few minutes.

One of the most famous methods for this purpose is the Pomodoro Technique. It argues that when we focus 100% on our tasks in separate blocks, our productivity is much higher.

Let’s use an example. Each block might be about 30 minutes long, during which you’ll focus completely on what you’re doing. At the end of the block, a timer might go off, and for the next five minutes, you’ll do something unrelated to the task at hand.

According to its creator, these breaks increase mental agility, without the professional becoming exhausted and being able to rest.

Conclusion

Working from home is already a trend around the world, with enormous benefits for professionals. It contributes to a better quality of life, less stress and greater productivity.

Even though it is expected to grow more and more, not everyone is able to adapt to working from home. Therefore, it is important to carefully analyze whether your profile fits into the routine of those who work in this model and whether you are willing to face these changes.

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