The study, explores the cost-benefit analysis of WFH in Indian context.

Benefits of WFH

• Organizational level: 
  • Savings: More than 25% in office rental cost, meeting with clients, employees etc.
  • Productivity: Reduced commutation stress, led to higher employee productivity and energy level etc.
  • Macro-environment: Reduction in company’s carbon footprint, meeting its ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) goals, hiring of spatially distant employees etc.
• Employee level:
  • Savings: Reduction in commuting time & costs, flexibility to live in more affordable peripheral areas.
  • Family relationship: Stronger kinship ties, beneficial for parents with young children and caregivers, improved work life balance etc.

Implications of WFH

• Organizational level: Less effective communication impacting teamwork, hindering the development and sustenance of organizational culture etc.
• Employee level: Frequent disruptions, lack of dedicated, undisturbed workspaces at home led to increased stress.
  • Family relationship: Rise in domestic violence incidents, increased pressure on women etc.    

Way ahead: Hybrid work practices, with employees expected to come to office for certain days in a week, whereby advantages of face-to-face working can be optimally combined with those of WFH.