<p>A year and more into the pandemic, some professionals say working from home has increased their workload, while others say it has allowed them time to hone their skills.</p>.<p>“Never did I imagine that work from home could prolong for so many months,” says Yashaswini G, who works at a multinational company in Bengaluru.</p>.<p>She finds it difficult to focus because of distractions at home. “But I have explored and learnt new tools such as Qlikview and SQL to enhance my work-related skills,” she adds.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Flexibility</span></strong></p>.<p>Vinayak S, who works at a software company, says, “Flexibility in work has benefited me. I don’t have to wake up early to catch an office cab. I can start and end work at my convenience.” </p>.<p>Bhoomika, who works at a private firm, says, “I sit for long hours in front of the screen. There is immense stress, and with no social interaction among our colleagues, I feel lonely and mentally drained.”</p>.<p>Yashaswini agrees. “At the office, I took some breaks and walked around the company with my colleagues. But working at home has taken a toll on my physical and mental health.”</p>.<p>The biggest challenge is the lack of social interaction, according to some techies.</p>.<p>“We aren’t aware of what other teams are working on, and this could negatively impact efficiency,” says Vinayak.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Work-life balance</span></strong></p>.<p>“The time saved on travelling has allowed me to spend quality time with family and learning a new art. We should learn to balance our life,” says Yashaswini.</p>.<p>Meghana R, who works at an IT company, echoes Yashaswini’s thoughts: “I have been getting ample time to manage both my art and office work.” </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Managers say...</span></strong></p>.<p>Srinath Gururajarao, vice president of software company Nexval Group, says, “Many sectors are not well-suited for the remote work environment, and some managers might be finding their roles more complicated than before.”</p>.<p>If managers don’t trust the employees enough, it could lead to micromanagement and a drop in employee motivation, he observes.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Possible future </span></strong></p>.<p>About a hybrid work culture, Vinayak says, “I feel working at home for three days and at the office for two days in a week could be the ideal combination.”</p>.<p>Bhoomika and Yashaswini are eager to work in an office environment — they believe it results in greater efficiency.</p>.<p>Srinath believes that the work culture of the future would involve humans without borders, and on screens.</p>
<p>A year and more into the pandemic, some professionals say working from home has increased their workload, while others say it has allowed them time to hone their skills.</p>.<p>“Never did I imagine that work from home could prolong for so many months,” says Yashaswini G, who works at a multinational company in Bengaluru.</p>.<p>She finds it difficult to focus because of distractions at home. “But I have explored and learnt new tools such as Qlikview and SQL to enhance my work-related skills,” she adds.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Flexibility</span></strong></p>.<p>Vinayak S, who works at a software company, says, “Flexibility in work has benefited me. I don’t have to wake up early to catch an office cab. I can start and end work at my convenience.” </p>.<p>Bhoomika, who works at a private firm, says, “I sit for long hours in front of the screen. There is immense stress, and with no social interaction among our colleagues, I feel lonely and mentally drained.”</p>.<p>Yashaswini agrees. “At the office, I took some breaks and walked around the company with my colleagues. But working at home has taken a toll on my physical and mental health.”</p>.<p>The biggest challenge is the lack of social interaction, according to some techies.</p>.<p>“We aren’t aware of what other teams are working on, and this could negatively impact efficiency,” says Vinayak.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Work-life balance</span></strong></p>.<p>“The time saved on travelling has allowed me to spend quality time with family and learning a new art. We should learn to balance our life,” says Yashaswini.</p>.<p>Meghana R, who works at an IT company, echoes Yashaswini’s thoughts: “I have been getting ample time to manage both my art and office work.” </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Managers say...</span></strong></p>.<p>Srinath Gururajarao, vice president of software company Nexval Group, says, “Many sectors are not well-suited for the remote work environment, and some managers might be finding their roles more complicated than before.”</p>.<p>If managers don’t trust the employees enough, it could lead to micromanagement and a drop in employee motivation, he observes.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Possible future </span></strong></p>.<p>About a hybrid work culture, Vinayak says, “I feel working at home for three days and at the office for two days in a week could be the ideal combination.”</p>.<p>Bhoomika and Yashaswini are eager to work in an office environment — they believe it results in greater efficiency.</p>.<p>Srinath believes that the work culture of the future would involve humans without borders, and on screens.</p>