By Jamie-Paige Tucker
The one year anniversary of the first nationwide lockdown is fast approaching, which also means that many of our countries hard workers haven’t stepped foot in an office for almost three-hundred and sixty-five days. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, not everyone has found this easy.
It’s a known fact that the economy has been hit hard in the UK by the pandemic, and in 2021 unemployment is expected to rise to an average of over 7%. This is the highest it has been since 2013 and is a serious concern for the future of our country.
Not everyone has lost their job though. Many companies found ways for employees to work from home during this pandemic. In fact, during our third national lockdown, 34% of employed UK citizens were working from home. But that doesn’t mean it’s been an easy task. And the biggest question is, will working from home be a sustainable option for the near future?
The working from home option is appealing to employers, as if it’s proved that work can be done sufficiently from home, then they may not need as much office space in the future, which saves the company money in the long term. Which over the past year, will have been proved countless times.
The hard work from those who have continuously done their jobs from home over the past year has kept many UK businesses afloat, during a very uncertain time for the business industry. Only 7% of businesses are expected to be closed permanently due to Covid-19. Which is a relatively low figure, considering the circumstances.
Some business really took advantage of the working from home concept. Louise Lavington works for the cosmetics company Clarins. She has been working from her home office since March 2020 and actually hasn’t minded the situation:
Louise said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working from home over the past year. I find it is much more convenient for me, and I enjoy the peace and quiet which you don’t have when you work in a large open plan office. There are less distractions. I have my home office set up away from the main hub of the house, which works perfectly and ensures my home and work lives are separate.”
And Louise even expressed concerns about returning to the office, saying: “I have to say that I am not looking forward to returning to the office. I am much better suited to working from home, and feel it gives me a better work/life balance. I am also slightly nervous about the pandemic, and will be far more relaxed about it once the vaccine is administered”
Companies on large scales, such as Clarins, are running efficiently without an office, it may be sensible to keep offices closed for as long as possible. Recent statistics show that there were more than 60 suspected Covid outbreaks in office spaces during the first two weeks of national lockdown number three. The less offices being used at capacity, the less chances of outbreak.
However, working from home isn’t ideal for everyone. When you factor in the other elements to home life, not everyone is finding that their work is being done to the same standard. Even begging to go back to the office, in some cases. Theresa Fretwell is one of these people.
The government introduced the furlough scheme in March 2020, which meant people who could not work from home, and worked in an unsafe environment could have their salaries be paid by the government. Many companies had to use the furlough scheme to protect their employees and keep them safe whilst the pandemic is ongoing.
Theresa had been placed on the furlough scheme from the middle of March 2020, through to the beginning of October 2020. During the first pandemic she was able to home school her two children with no other responsibilities to worry about. However, this lockdown she doesn’t have the same luxury. Now working again, she’s found juggling her own work alongside the children’s work much more difficult.
Theresa explained: “It’s been hard. Trying to make sure all my work is done as well as making sure they (the children) are both doing all the work that their teachers set. It’s been a bit of a battle. I am managing to get my work done, but I’ve had to create a slightly different routine to fit it around everything else I’m now responsible for.”
Theresa said: “I’m not looking forward to going back to the office, especially not if we’re still struggling with this pandemic. But I will be looking forward to getting my regular working life back on track.” A feeling many will be able to relate too.
On the other side of the business world, working from home hasn’t been an option for everyone. Paul Chivers is a business owner; his company Premier Gardens is a landscaping business based in Cambridgeshire. Back in March 2020 Premier Gardens was approved for the self-employment support scheme, but this grant didn’t last long. Both Paul and his partner had to return to work after only a matter of weeks, making changes to how they work, to make it suited to the national situation:
Paul explained: “We luckily have a business where we only work outside, this meant we were able to remain distanced from our customers all day. The only risk we took was socialising with each other. But with both of our families still in total lockdown, we assessed the situation and decided the risk was minimal. It was either that, or potentially losing our business. Luckily it never came to that.” And for many like Paul, I’m sure the idea of working from home, and surviving the pandemic sounds like a luxury.
It’s been a scary time for everyone in the business industry. Over the past year we’ve seen huge brands such as Topshop and Frankie and Benny’s plummet their way to closure. Which leaves a level of uncertainty for everyone. Whether you’re a self-employed business owner, a chain or just an employee, there has been no guarantee of job safety.
Being able to work from home has its plus points and its negatives. However, for a lot of cases it’s been a saviour in a time of extreme uncertainty. With the third lockdown ongoing, it doesn’t look like many will be returning to the office any time soon.