Work from home (WFH) is posing newer challenges such as unlimited working hours, no breaks, mental fatigue and above all monotony. People are not taking leaves because as it is they are at home and there’s no scope for any outing or visit. People are not dressing up, grooming themselves, taking care of their physical health, binging on junk food and leading an unscheduled life style that’s hovering around office work and television. There’s no physical activity or mental stimulation. In fact, household tiffs and obesity are being cited as two most adverse outcomes of the current lockdown.
The problem is that most of the organisations are seriously exploring implementation of WFH even in post Covid times. It’s said that this is expected to result in substantial savings to the organisations ( rent, electricity, overheads etc) as also employees ( conveyance, travel time etc)
It’s not as if everyone is adversely affected by WFH situation. Women with dependent elders, young children and other such issues are rejoicing the idea of WFH. It gives them flexibility as also opportunity to fulfil other familial obligations. Those who used to spend hours commuting to office and back home should also generally be happy.
But besides everything, man inherently is a social animal and notwithstanding conveniences and flexibilities offered by WFH, he needs to meet people, exchange thoughts, mingle socially and at times, celebrate his existence. The very concepts of social distancing, avoiding crowds, working from home, staying indoors etc are anathema to his basic trait and that’s the reason why Corona’s impact is being felt so severely much beyond its contagiousness and fatality.
Corona has hit the very basis of mankind’s existence. It’s not so much to do with WFH, but overall constriction associated with it that’s driving people to psychological disorders, including suicidal tendencies. Yoga, meditation or mere chanting of God’s name can prove to be great stress busters in these Covid times. We need to treat it as a passing phase rather than being apprehensive about its permanence. If change is the only constant, then this scenario will also change and those who will see through it successfully and come out relatively less scathed will be the winners.
If those days are gone
How long will Covid survive?
Man’s resilience knows no bounds
Tomorrow is a new day of his life!
Arvind Arya blog 
Informative article. Keep it up.
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Thanks Vinayda! Hope all of you are safe and happy
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You are right, of course. This Covid 19 and the prolonged lockdown has given rise to several unforeseen, unplanned, unheard of and often unfortunate outcomes. Domestic violence is just one of the unfortunate and unforeseen outcomes. Depression is another. Older and physically unfit people are finding life difficult to manage in the absence of domestic help. The doctor has advised both of us (particularly myself ) to remain locked up unless an emergency happens. I have missed my heart check up by five months already. Can’t even imagine visiting the hospital for fear of catching an infection… The list goes on..
Meanwhile the owners of e-commerce portals are laughing all the way to the bank. Manufacturers of sanitizers, masks, gloves, Face Shields, oximeters and BP measuring products are raking in the loot…
On the one hand consumer prices from groceries, vegetables, household consumer durables, liquor and medicines have shot up many folds due mostly to a supply shortage and the interest rates are nose-diving southward, hitting the older and the retired people the hardest
On the other hand salaries and wage incomes have fallen drastically and jobs have been lost, Unemployment is shooting. Many industries and businesses have ground to a halt.
This is a sure shot way to serious financial trouble for the public and a prescription for disaster..
The people in charge are clueless, to say the least, and are clutching at straws…
God help us all!
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Totally agree with you Dada
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A great blog, Sir. Have covered all the things so well. Man is a social animal and right now the animal in him is what is overpowering. The fear, the uncertainty, the anger, the frustration etc thrives. Happiness can still be found but we prefer the negativity as that is what is being pedalled by everyone, the media, the people and society at large. What I have realised during this phase is that our wants are frugal, everything else was superficial. We even went back to just the Roti, Kapda aur Makaan. I have only one thought that keeps me strong…. subah zaroor aayegi, subah ka intezar kar.
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Lovely feedback on the blog! Thanks Sharad for reading and sharing your views p
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A Nice Analysis of The Social Impact
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Thanks
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True Sir
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How are you Charming?
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Very relevant challenges highlighted, Sir. I believe these are Change Management issues and people will align/adapt slowly to this new normal.
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Hope so Raza
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Sir, very well said, in this difficult times, it is necessary for us to maintain mental health, While, you have talked about WFH , however, in general also the overall feelers around is so depressing that maintaining peace and normal thoughts seems to be very difficult. Yes , Meditation and Yoga seems to be a good stress busters in such difficult times.
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Completely agree with you Vashishtji
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Resilience and change, so very essential.
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Yes Rohit sir
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Very well articulated sir and so very apt for the current uncertain situation. The physical and mental well-being is paramount as cited.
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Thanks for liking it
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WFH has helped the organisations to a great extent to keep the business going (BCP) may be with little hiccups It’s great relief to employees working in Mumbai in crowded trains and spending lot of time in commutation especially women having small kids at home and no parental support. This WFH would be more rewarding to employer’s if they reduce their office rental costs and more useful to employees working major metropolitan cities in India.Though there would be some challenges as it happens in any business model which some tech savvy corporates may overcome over a period of time. For Others it’s a temporary phenomenon as rightly said by Mr.Adsul as law of impermanence. Nothing is permanent. I appreciate the Nicely summed up blog.
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Thanks for your feedback
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