Let’s take a trip down memory lane, and to be honest, we don’t have to go back too far.
We only have to wind the clocks back to pre-March 2020. If someone had have gone to their employer back then and asked if they could work from home (WFH) 2 or 3 days a week, they would have most likely heard an answer such as "'tell em they’re dreamin'!"
"I am going to date stamp this blog... The reason I am doing this, is because I believe the goal posts are probably going to move pretty damn quickly on this one!"
But in March 2020, Covid came along and voila, life as we knew it changed almost overnight. The short term consequences of the pandemic hit hard and fast, disrupting labour markets globally and millions of workers were trying to do their jobs, while in lockdown, not knowing when or even if, life would return to normal. A silver lining in what was a pretty dark time, was that the pandemic normalised our ability to work from home. None of us knew when we’d get back to the office again, and like something straight out of Darwin’s theory of evolution, we created ways to make working from home, well…. work!
So let’s look in our own backyard and where we’ve landed 2 years down the track. Before we go on however, I am going to date stamp this blog. As I write, it's May 2022. The reason I am doing this, is because I believe the goal posts are probably going to move pretty damn quickly on this one!
"When asking potential candidates what’s important ... working from home potential is always on their top 3 wish list items."
I am also going to put a quick caveat around the pro’s and con’s around WFH, depending greatly on the uptake of cloud-based technology by a Real Estate office. It seems we hear of new apps and software’s daily that are providing platforms for companies to become so much more agile in their quest to make it possible for staff to do their job seamlessly, regardless of their location. However, on saying this, not all offices have adopted these practices, so working from home may not be an option available to all real estate workers.
It seems that we have gotten used to being able to do some days WFH, and we all want a part of it. As a recruiter, when asking potential candidates what’s important on their wish list when looking for a new job, some working from home potential is always on their top 3 wish list items. 10 years ago, very few people mentioned this request, as it was something that just wouldn’t even be considered.
When working from home, clear boundaries need to be in place around expectations of work. Yes, a high level of trust is required, and this should always be looked upon as a perk rather than a right.
So let’s look at what roles do seem to be working better than others at providing WFH as an option.
The role of receptionist is one that often needs to be at the office. Being there to welcome clients, liaise with tradies to get keys and to field enquiries from walk in customers is one that needs you there, in person. Some larger offices with 2-person front desks, can manage to overcome this, by having phone calls diverted to a number that can be answered from home so their receptionists can take rostered days at home, answering calls and doing admin parts of their job from home.
More administrative roles such as accounts/finance, rental and sales admin, marketing and owner’s corporation can be done more easily through cloud based software’s. Some offices, where staff live far from the office, have no issue with the staff member working 3-4 days a week from home. This can be a real win-win especially when recruiting new staff in what we know is a candidate short market, what a draw card!
Property Managers have adjusted to a hybrid WFH model well. With some well thought out changes to the way their day is planned, we are seeing Property Managers enjoying a much healthier work/home balance. We are seeing a lot of offices having set days where all the team are ‘in’ together or are all WFH. On the days they are in, it’s easy to plan things such as training or team events. Weekly meetings are always on the same day and are not negotiable to be in attendance (there are some that aren’t able to make it, but an appearance on Teams/Zoom is much acceptable these days).
Sales has been one of the roles where WFH has worked most successfully. Tasks such as meeting clients, attending opens and doing appraisals can be done when working in the office, while more admin tasks and phone calls can be done from home.
So, how has the last 2 years impacted the way we are able to work, through the eyes of the employer and the employee. There are a list of pro’s and con’s as long as our well sanitised arms! Let’s name just a few;
The Good
Although Covid 19 put huge pressures on each of us in many different ways, we should rejoice that a lot of great things have come from our new found love of WFH. WFH during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, have led many companies to now allow a hybrid model of work, such as 2 days per week at home and 3 days in the office. We are now even looking down the scope of a 4 day working week, but I will talk more of that in another blog!
WFH days means the commute is eliminated, in turn cutting transport costs and down time driving, but now allows us to spend quality time in the mornings with family, time to take the kids to school or time to exercise or even sleep in a little bit later.
Hello active wear! When WFH, for 2 days a week, many of us don’t have to take the time (and money) to dress in our business/office attire. Unless we have a Teams meet, we can dress in a way far more casual and comfy. We have got comfortable, getting comfortable. On the 3 days we are in the office, we can enjoy the anticipation of ‘dressing up’ more.
Another great thing about working from home, is no more impromptu visits by co-workers who love nothing more than dropping by the desk, taking up your time with all the details of everything from last night’s MasterChef to their kid’s school concert.
The Bad and the Ugly
The distance between being at work and not being at work is often the distance between your dining table and your couch. WFH puts us in a fishbowl where there is no clear delineation between work and home, which makes it really hard to switch off. An article on humanresourcesonline.net states that 61% of people surveyed, agreed that working from home has taken up their personal time and that they have overworked without their employer’s knowledge.
A ping here and notification there, instantly brings you back to work mode, even after hours. Since there is no difference between being in the office and being at home, the lines that co-workers and sometimes clients may have normally respected, can disappear. It seems you are always at work! (sad face).
For all the benefits of not having to go in to the office, too much WFH can easily turn you in to a hermit. You need to get out and interact with others at least a couple of times a day, or get out and get some fresh air.
Distractions. WFH requires an insane amount of self-motivation. I am sure we all believe we are far more productive when WFH, but gosh isn’t it easy to get distracted! Social media, house work, visitors and pets are just a few of the shiny baubles that distract us away from our work.
Getting left out. How many times have you not been in the office and you hear of something that happened, or a meeting that was called and you weren’t involved in? Collaboration and innovation with your team is not limited to being there face to face but it often needs additional, more thought through planning.
A hybrid working from home model is far from a one size fits all and can come with hooks if not implemented with careful planning that works for all parties, but we are very pleased it’s a journey more and more real estate offices are adopting today.
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