Work from home – A growing trend in IT companies benefits, drawbacks, opportunities, and challenges

Pratiksha Tulshiram Ugemuge; Sneha Shingankar; Shobha Joshi

doi:10.4103/jdmimsu.jdmimsu_456_21

REVIEW ARTICLE

Year : 2022 | Volume : 17 | Issue : 4 | Page : 1009-1012

Work from home – A growing trend in IT companies benefits, drawbacks, opportunities, and challenges

Pratiksha Tulshiram Ugemuge, Sneha Shingankar, Shobha Joshi
Department of Community Medicine, SEPH, JNMC, DMIMS, Sawangi Meghe, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

Date of Submission	10-Dec-2021
Date of Acceptance	08-Apr-2022
Date of Web Publication	10-Feb-2023

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Pratiksha Tulshiram Ugemuge
Department of Community Medicine, SEPH, DMIMS, Sawangi Meghe, Wardha, Maharashtra
India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.4103/jdmimsu.jdmimsu_456_21

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the threaten situation in the COVID-19 scenario and to know the benefits, drawbacks, opportunities, and challenges of trend work from home. It will be a golden opportunity for people who work from home in an organized way to enjoy with family and earn money together. Background: In past decades, lots of changes of working methods have occurred. These revolutionary changes are very useful and it is a need of time. Methods: This is a narrative review of literature compiling the findings of literature from searches of computerized databases, textbooks, and discussion with community. Discussion: The collected data from the literature review are presented into themes to get clear scenes and ideas. Some recommendations are discussed to use it in a proper way. Conclusion: This study identifies elements that affect workers' physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being while working from home, and it lays the groundwork for thinking about how to best support a pleasant work from home experience. As per ideas establish a routine, be organized, have a sufficient workspace, boost your productive work, be responsible, avoid lot of multitasking, enhance communication and network, be balanced, study remote research possibilities, and learn from issues.

Keywords: Database, immunity, productivity, threats, work from home

How to cite this article:
Ugemuge PT, Shingankar S, Joshi S. Work from home – A growing trend in IT companies benefits, drawbacks, opportunities, and challenges. J Datta Meghe Inst Med Sci Univ 2022;17:1009-12

How to cite this URL:
Ugemuge PT, Shingankar S, Joshi S. Work from home – A growing trend in IT companies benefits, drawbacks, opportunities, and challenges. J Datta Meghe Inst Med Sci Univ [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 28];17:1009-12. Available from: http://www.journaldmims.com/text.asp?2022/17/4/1009/369510

Introduction

The corona pandemic has changed our lives in every way. It has far-reaching ramifications for education, agriculture, industry, business, and information technology. The threats of COVID-19 closure had an impact on every sector. As per national and municipal containment policies, businesses, organizations, and institutions promoted their employees to work remotely from home. Despite the fact that it is widely used in a number of nations, it has encountered a number of difficulties. The implications of the corona pandemic for jobs, unemployment, and the limitations of doing a literature review on such a fast-moving topic are discussed in the first section of this article.

The COVID-19 literature is divided into four themes by the four topics.

Theme 1: Threats to one's health and well-being
Theme 2: Unemployment puts a strain on families
Theme 3: Changes in working methods and locations, as well as reliance on technology
Theme 4: Routine restructuring; be accountable and productive.

The new coronavirus and its associated sickness have had a huge impact on people's lives, causing many businesses to close temporarily or permanently, and workers to relocate to a remote, virtual working environment. As a result of the corona pandemic problem, there is an increasing trend around the world for more people to work from home. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, nearly 30% of US workers switched to working from home between February and May 2020, and 10% of workers were laid off.^[1] Changes in employment connected to COVID-19 were linked to more sitting and screen time. Increased sedentary time due to job shifts is a public health problem since sedentary time is negatively connected with current and future health and well-being.^[2] The following issues linked with pandemics, both historical and current, were found through a compilation of reviews of research literature in many fields and articles issued by worldwide organizations.^[3]

Discrimination against diseased people and residents in high infection zones
Significant disruption of family life
Fear, hospitalization, isolation from family and friends, and loss of loved ones
Families' inability to offer consistent care, a safe environment, and educational support at home
Fear, worry, tension, depression, accidents, disorders, and suicides are all more common
Health-care appointments are being postponed, medical treatment is being disrupted, the immunization programmed is being suspended, and medical supplies are in limited supply
Unhealthy food overconsumption, seldom strenuous physical activity, excessive screen usage, and rising obesity
Widespread job loss and economic suffering, resulting in homelessness, additional migration, displacement, and family separation
Domestic violence, intimate relationship violence, and sexual exploitation are all on the rise.

Theme One Threats to Human Health and Quality of Life

The mom and dad of small children tested positive for the virus in late spring of 2020.^[4] Both parents work in the medical industry; the mother is a hospital nurse's assistant. The father is employed as a nurse in a nursing home. Despite being quite unwell, the couple was able to stay at home and communicate with their family physician through telehealth video conversations for treatment.^[5] One of their small children developed symptoms of a cold. However, they chose not to test her because she was pregnant. She was cured soon, during this time, the parents were plagued by worrisome questions. When and how did they become infected with the virus? Is COVID-19 a threat to anyone's health? Relationships with family members that last a long time? Given that they live in the same residence, is it certain that their son would contract the virus? Did the people who worked at the parents' place of business know what was going on?^[6] Workplaces must confine employees fast enough to avoid an outbreak. A rise in the number of cases in the neighborhood? When parents are exhausted, what will they do about homeschooling expectations? How long will the family be able to survive without a source of income? from either of your parents? This family's predicament exemplifies two fundamental psychology principles that are central to this examination of the short- and long-term consequences of global health.

Quality of life (QoL) and wellness are two aspects of the pandemic. Since the 1960s, QoL has been the focus of psychological research.^[7] The decade of the 1980s, it tries to address the question, “What makes it possible to live and flourish in life, rather than just endure and exist?” Physical and mental health is included in QoL.^[8]

Workplace competence, social support, and cognitive functioning as well as good feelings such as optimism, knowledge, and resiliency – all of which are crucial in dealing with COVID-19.^[9] Similarly, modern definitions of wellness have expanded beyond physical health. “A way of life centered” is one definition of wellness.^[10] Thoroughly integrated into both the human and ecological communities. Without a doubt, global QoL and wellness have improved. Children, families, and communities have all been affected by the massive changes that have occurred.^[10] A global epidemic has had a significant impact on these factors and dealing with it on a daily basis for a long time, physical and mental health can be jeopardized over time.^[11] “Fear, anxiety, and stress are typical responses to perceived or real threats, and during times when we are faced with uncertainty,” according to the World Health Organization (2020). As a result, it is natural and understandable that in the context of the COVID-19, people are fearful that “pandemic” is a term used to describe a situation (unpaged). COVID-19 experiences are characterized by four sorts of fear: (1) bodily ravages, (2) worries about significant others, (3) intolerance of uncertainty, and (4) pondering about whether or not to act. It is critical to recognize the link between anxiety and depression. Fear is often linked to grief, which is natural and anticipated any time there has been a significant loss or change.^[12] Human beings all across the world are mourning not only the loss of life, but also anticipatory loss, which is defined as the expectation of additional, future losses will take place.

Theme Two: Unemployment Puts a Strain on Families

A young family shifted to the city from the village to earn more money. Both husband and wife got job. She was working in big restaurant as a waitress and her husband was as a cook in the same hotel. After 2 years, corona entered and started engulfing people. As per the warning of the government, hotels got closed for long time. During the COVID-19 lockdown, both husband and wife lost their job. Children had been started online teaching education. Financial issues were arisen. It was very difficult to manage all this stuff at the same time financially and timely. School fees, daily expenses, food expenses, and many things were faced, and it made the situation very hard. The parents were forced to start homeschooling their children right away. I did not always get what the primary school teachers were saying. Given their precarious financial circumstances, the pair began working outside throughout the summer and fall, cleaning, cutting grass, and raking leaves. Despite the fact that their children require supervision to finish the task, parents should work hard to meet the family's needs due to school assignments and they did.^[13] They had to rely on neighbors and friends for assistance, and they were always afraid of contracting the disease and passing it on to their children.

In comparison, consider a young mother whose profession entails supplying materials for programs and social gatherings, such as weddings and banquets. She was unemployed, but her husband's income was adequate to keep the family afloat; his job was solid, and he worked from home. Everyone in this family had their own technical devices and indoor settings in which they may work. Their job is generally uninterrupted, and there is a wide outside area for them to work in where the whole family might get together for some rest and relaxation; parents did not have to be infected because they could order anything they wanted and have it delivered or picked up. Although there were some supply chain issues, the overall picture was positive. Food insecurity was not an issue for the second family.^[14] They also had teachers in their families to assist them. The COVID-19 epidemic has been a disaster for the first family, which has only been averted because to their tireless efforts.^[15] For the financially safe family, it was friends and church; for the financially insecure family, it was an inconvenient situation. The COVID-19 situation calls into question the widely held belief that “we all are in the same boat.” To begin with, the “boats” available to weather that challenge varies greatly. Some households are on expensive vessels, while some are safely moored. Others are in risk, even in well-equipped houseboats.

On improvised rafts, they were in risk of sinking at any moment. Second, depending on the family's circumstances, the nature of the “storm” varies greatly. When it comes to workers, first responders and medical personnel are in the midst of a tsunami. Other vital personnel is being tossed around by the wind. Despite the turbulent waves, there are many people who can continue to work. Those who work at a distance from their workplaces have sailing was relatively easy. During the lockdown, women's responsibilities for keeping their homes clean, doing laundry, cooking meals, and other domestic work increased.^[16]

It aims to answer the question of what makes it possible to thrive and flourish in life rather than just endure and exist.^[17] QoL includes physical, mental, and cognitive health, social support, work competence, and positive emotions such as optimism, wisdom, and resilience. You will find everything you need to know about dealing with COVID-19 right here.^[18]

In February 2021, the spring season was running at that time. As I was taking a walk at night time after dinner, wearied mask, my neighbor uncle and aunty came to me and asked about the health of my parents. At that time, I have seen a pleasure over their face; they were very happy because their son came to them after 2–3 years.^[19] I asked the reason of coming back to home, they revealed the reason that his company offered him to work from home for life time. Now, their son can do his office work from home.^[20] Many old-aged parents nowadays very happy because they are living with their sons and daughters (who were separated and were living outside for jobs and education). Many employees are very happy by this work-from-home opportunity.^[21] In that 3–4 months, I observed many old aged parents who were living alone, they can live with their children because of work from home trends. Employees can spend better time with the family and take care of; on the other hand, in those circumstances, I was running my private practice. One day, a man came to me with neck pain and lower back pain along with that he has stress because of workload of allotted task. I had taken detail history regarding signs and symptoms. According to him, all its occur because of disturbed routine, lifestyle, excessive screen time, and imbalanced and unhealthy diet. Not only single, but also many people are suffering from such unexpected discomfort. The implication is that work from home has benefits and drawbacks also. It is up to you to take it in a positive way or in a negative way.^[22]

Theme 3: Changes in Working Method and Site and Reliance on Technology

Employees now have a great deal of flexibility for where and when they work because of the widespread availability of technology. Working life has been drastically altered as a result of the corona health catastrophe.^[13] In comparison to the office, the home environment is likely to be deficient in many areas.^[23] Working for long periods of time in a sedentary position raises the risk of cervical and lower back pain even though the impact of work from home on a variety of factors such as QoL, health, safety, and productivity has been studied. This is still an emerging field.^[24] These large changes in employment status and environment of work are likely to affect exercise behaviors. In fact, studies have indicated that home offices may have superior air quality than regular offices.^[25] Most importantly, working from home reduces daily up and downtime and allows employees to better care for their families.

Theme 4: Restructuring of Routines, be Responsible and Productive

Work from home may be very difficult for women because women are much responsible for housework management and other home activities, and working mothers may feel double the stress at home owing to a lack of help when it comes to homeschooling and child care.^[26] To overcome all these troubles, restructure your routine so that you can complete your task in time. It will result into the enhancement of your productivity and good performance.

On the Other Side of the Pandemic

Arundhati Roy (2020), an Indian novelist and activist, proposes a better metaphor for the corona pandemic crisis: a portal. It is a route that leads to a different future. We are on the verge of embarking on that voyage. What it is possible that if you win the game, you will get something wonderful out of it. Is it time for a coronavirus? We wanted to see how the style of life, home type, and occupational characteristics affected physical and mental health in people who had done to work from home owing to the corona epidemic.

Conclusion

During the corona pandemic threat and beyond, this advice would benefit students, professors, researchers, policymakers, IT employees, and industries all across the world.

According to the ideas, establish a routine, be organized, have a sufficient workspace, boost your productive work, be responsible, avoid lot of multitasking, enhance communication and network, be balanced, study remote research possibilities, and learn from issues.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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