b'FEATURED ARTICLEI ntheory,workingfromhomeShowering, shaving, applying make-up, (WFH)shouldactuallyleadtochoosing what to wear, preparing lunch, increasedproductivityformostgetting kids ready in a hurry may all be employees.Afterall,thinkofallthatmundane but are all important parts of time that is spent getting ready for workthe routine.and in transit that is now not needed. Thereality,however,isconsiderably different to that theoretical premise.Whileemployeesmayresentmany aspectsofthatroutine,therealityis, that routine plays an important part of 1.When can WFH work well?24% WFHarrangementsworkwellonlyintheir effectiveness at work. In sporting terms, that is the pre-match warm-up one or more of the following situations: that minimises the risk of injury (read inefficiencyorlackofeffectiveness) whereanemployeeisalreadywhen at work.usedtoworkingfromhomeas Australian Bureau of Statisticspartoftheirusualcontractual3.No separationindicate that around one- arrangements with their employer;quarter of Australian workerswheretheWFHisusedtoLike many other business-owners, I like worked at least part of theirsupplement,ratherthanbeamyworkplaceandIlikework.Ihave time from home substitutefor,theworkthatannevermetasinglebusiness-owner employee has to do at their ordinaryanywhereintheworldwhosaysthat CLICK TO READ MORE place of work; and they wake up and really dont want to go to their place of work.where the nature of an employees role is such that they are regularly androutinelydistractedattheirIdounderstandthatmaynotbethe usualplaceofworkandthatsamefornon-owneremployeesin 4.3M preventsthemfromcompletingorganisations.Theextenttowhich other (usually important) tasks andsomeone enjoys or doesnt enjoy going projects. to work depends on a range of factors:theirrelationshipwiththeir Working Women (33%) areOutsideoneoftheabovesituations,manager and colleagues;slightly more likely than menin the vast majority of instances, WFHthesocialinteractionstheyhave (32%) to be working fromarrangementswillbesub-optimalinwith others;home during this period. terms of productivity and efficacy for antheir career motivation;organisation.CLICK TO READ MORE. thebenefitsofferedbytheir employer; and2.The Importance of routine therelativityofinteractionsthey One of the reasons WFH is challenginghavewithco-workersasagainst is that it represents a new routine forinteractionstheymighthavewith 50% people. It is, in short, a major change. inother people in their lives.everyone However,unlikeothermajorchangesOnefundamentalthingthat thatpeoplehavehadtodealwithneedsistheneedforseparation. their work lives (including loss of a job)Physical,emotionalandsocial are prepared to forego athishasbeenimplementedwithoutseparationonaweeklyifnotadaily percentage of their pay inmuchforewarningandwithoutmanybasis is absolutely critical for anyone to exchange for greater flexibilityalternative options being available.keep performing at an acceptable level.in working arrangementsCLICK TO READ MORE. TherealproblemisthatformostIt is no surprise that some employees newroutines,adelayedstarttimeorfeelthattheyareinfactdoingmore changeddaysofworking,stillmeanwork when they are at home because of thatyouwouldhavetodothethingsthis than when they are at work. needed to get ready for and go to work. OCTOBER 2020 21'