the good and the evil of “work from home” – an indian...

The Good and the Evil of

“Work From Home”

– An Indian Perspective

The term ‘telecommuting’ to denote the use of

electronics and technology to work remotely was

coined in the early ‘70s. Over the intervening period,

telecommuting or “Work From Home” (WFH) became a

means of introducing some flexibility in working

conditions. However, in India, the conventional working

system continued to be in place, with only a few

exceptions in sectors like IT and in some MNCs.

Working from home was unheard of across many

sectors of the Indian economy. Even in the other sectors,

it was largely adopted as the exception rather than the

norm when limited work from home facilities were

offered to employees in special cases, but COVID-19

outbreak and the nationwide lockdown changed

everything.

Today, almost all enterprises have resorted to working

from homes to keep business processes running. Now as

lockdown restrictions get eased in phases, social

distancing norms and the risk of infections are

prompting organizations to consider extending the WFH

An overwhelming majority of India’s professional

workforce has not been used to working from home. This

has been a drastic shift for them, especially when

coupled with the pandemic-driven disruption to their

personal and family life. At Godrej Interio, we surveyed

over 1500 employees, working in different sectors like

IT/ITES, MNCs, Educational Institutes, Government

Organisations, Financial Institutions, PSUs from 50 cities

in India to capture the voice of the Indian professional.

We tried to identify the challenges being faced by them

while working from home, as well as the benefits that

they are enjoying. We also attempted to understand the

effects of WFH on the health of the remote working

employees with the objective of helping them overcome

the challenges and stay healthy and productive.

period for weeks, or even months more. Even as

organizations try to define processes and support

systems in line with this move, there has not been any

widespread attempt to understand what the employees

feel.

Introduction

The Good and the Evil of “Work From Home” – An Indian Perspective

02

As mentioned earlier, the majority of the Indian

workforce had not experienced WFH prior to this. It is

natural for these employees to have had some

preconceived notions about what working from home

would entail. Discussions around the topic previously

used to focus on the benefits like saving on commute

time, flexible working hours, and comfortable schedules.

After over 6 weeks of working from home, we at Godrej

Interio tried to understand if their WFH expectations

were met or belied? Given the possibility that WFH could

become much more widely prevalent even after

lockdowns lifted, it is also worth examining what

problems and challenges these employees faced over

this time. Would they like to continue working from

home? Did they become more productive? Did the new

way of working impact their health in any way?

63.4% of respondents said that their organizations

already had remote working policies in place, while

33.2% answered in the negative, which means a good

33% of the Indians are experiencing working from home

for the first time. A lot of people mentioned that they are

also working for longer hours at home. The need to stay

connected throughout the day, respond immediately,

In the following sections, we will reveal what were the

hopes and expectations of the employees when they

started working from home as well as how those were

met. We will also identify the main challenges and issues

employees face with WFH.

attend team calls have drastically increased. While at

home people tend to be connected more than the usual

office hours as there is no hurry to finish the work and

leave on time. 31.2% of the employees worked for more

than 8 hours a day while 8.9% worked for more than 10

hours a day. When there is no separation of going to and

from office, workday tends to blurr into home-life. The

feeling of always at work could lead to burnout.

Background

of the Indians are experiencing

working from home for the first time >

33%

31.2% worked

for more than

8 hours a day

8.9% worked

for more than

10 hours a day


03

Office goers in cities spend 30 minutes to an hour each

day commuting to work. Commuting not only takes up

time but can also be stressful. As can be expected, 64%

of the respondents valued the time saved by not

commuting so much that they saw this as a key benefit

of working from home. The time saved on commuting

enabled them to work better and they believed this

enhanced their productivity.

More focus, fewer distractionsWorking in the office brings with it several distractions.

This is even more true in modern offices that tend to be

open and collaborative. At home, as there was no

gossiping, frequent coffee breaks, smoking trips, or

other colleagues on calls or talking to create

distractions, about 19.9% of the respondents found fewer

distractions while working from home and they cited this

as a reason for liking WFH. 60% of the respondents said

that they could focus more while working from home.

While in office, most felt under constant pressure to

complete the day’s work on time to leave for home

Save commute time

Working in comfortable home clothes with a cup of

coffee in the hand and a bowl of snacks on the table is

the attractive image of working from home that has

prevailed. The inherent flexibility of working at your own

pace with no one to micro manage has also been seen

as an advantage.

More family timePersonal and professional life can peacefully co-exist

while working from home. In fact, this has always been

seen as a key benefit of companies that allow WFH. In

our survey too, 47.1% of respondents cited this as an

important reason to like working from home. There is no

unnecessary wastage of time while working remotely so

they could complete the day’s work quickly and take

more time out for family and personal needs.

Flexibility to work

making it difficult to concentrate on the work at hand. As

they didn’t have to commute long distances regularly,

that time could be dedicated to working.

Traditionally, working from home has been preferred because of its inherent flexibility, reduced

commute time and stress, and the possibility of giving more time for personal and family commitments.

In light of these expectations, the survey sought to understand the perspective of what the employees

were liking about working from home. Let’s look at what the employees valued in this new experience.

Why We Like To Work From Home ?

64% saving commute time

19.9% found fewer distractions

47.1% cited more time with family

as an important reason to like

working from home


04

Domestic duties also came in the way of work for 50% of

the respondents. Not all the distractions were domestic.

Some were caused by the changed ways of working and

the distributed office set up. In that light, 51% of the

respondents said that excessive calls with colleagues

distracted them from their work.

Many employees struggled to manage a workday that

now includes distractions like childcare, household

chores, and in-home entertainment options such as TV

and internet. 37% of the respondents reported that there

were very distracted at home. 41% of the respondents

reported being distracted by their kids. That apart, the

noise from the home appliances (31%) and the external

environment also contributed to reduced focus.

Working from home is wonderful ….. has a lot of its advantages as cited by people. But that seems to be

only one part of the story. We found that while employees feel that they are more productive when they

work from home, they're also more vulnerable to working longer hours, a more intense work pace, work-

home interference, and, in some cases, greater stress. A several bunch of them working for the first time

from home also face a lot of infrastructural issues which poses several health issues.

Challenges We Face While We Work From Home...

Distractions @ Home

Distractions are a part of Work from Home Scenario

17%Kids & Family

Members

24% UnstableInternet

9%Home

Appliances

14% Household

Duties

26%Working

Alone


05

Infrastructure emerged as a key problem area given that

most employees had never had the opportunity to set up

functional workspaces at home prior to the pandemic.

33% of our respondents reported not having dedicated

work areas at home. With the sudden move to working

from home, people are having to choose between sofas,

beds, kitchen tables, or the floor, rather than office desks

and chairs. Most of the people were observed to

alternate their place of work, moving from a desk & chair

(including dining table & chair) set up to a bed and a

sofa. Some often sat on the floor to work.

Apart from different corners of the house that people

worked from, we found that the incidence of incorrect

postures is high due to lack of appropriate work

infrastructure at home. More than 70% of the people

worked without a laptop stand, or a similar number did

not use external keyboard or mouse. More than 48%

mentioned that their backs were not well supported

while they worked. Moreover, most people were found to

be putting in longer hours at work, increasing the

incidence of gadget usage. A little more than half the

audience studied reported using the laptop for more

than 8 hours a day. Almost all of them were connected

on the smart phones for more than 6 hours a day. Turning

to the impact of the limited movement and physical

activity, 24% of the employees said that they don’t take

stretch breaks in between work, which suggests that

they keep on sitting in the same position throughout the

day.

Incorrect posture coupled with excessive gadget usage

for prolonged periods can have a devastating effect on

the body. More than 41% of the people reported

experiencing pain at the end of the day, with a majority

complaining of 52% neck pain, 51% eyes strain ,49%

lower back pain, 46% headache, 45% shoulder pain, 41%

upper back pain.

Work Infrastructure @ home

33% not having dedicated work areas at home

It is clear that the right infrastructure is a prerequisite to

being able to perform at peak efficiency. Functional

infrastructure supports the employees as they seek to

deliver their tasks over long hours while minimizing the

strain on their bodies. While working from home, many of

the things that employees may have taken for granted in

the office suddenly become significant challenges that

impact productivity and employee well-being

Apart from the physical infrastructural issues, tech issues

slow down work and hamper productivity. Unreliable

internet connections, laptop breakdowns, and phone

issues all hurt activity. Most of the work is being

conducted and monitored through the internet making

the network a crucial piece of the infrastructure. 50% of

the employees complained of reduced productivity

because of unstable internet connections.

More than 41% of the people reported

experiencing pain at the end of the day

52% neck pain

51% eyes strain

49%lower back pain

46%headache

45% shoulder pain

41% upper

back pain


06

Our study revealed that 23% of the workers don’t follow

The sudden WFH change has overturned the regular

schedule of many people. Humans are creatures of

routines and breaking those routines has ramifications

on physical health as well as on elevated stress levels.

Good habits can break and bad habits, that can have

severe consequences, can set in.

a regular schedule anymore, and 28% of them don’t

start work at the same time of the day. Food habits seem

to be a key casualty. 49% of the respondents reported

that they don’t follow fixed meal timings, and 23% of

them even skip breakfast. Increase in consumption of

junk food, increased caffeine intake and reduced water

intake – all were observed and can have serious health

implications on people.

The office environment also provides a more formal work

environment that helps create a sense of urgency while

addressing work-related tasks. Office also gives

employees an opportunity to collaborate with

colleagues and learn more. For people, who are not

accustomed to working remotely, it’s a very different

scenario to work all alone at home. Thus, it comes as no

big surprise that 45% of the people feel isolated while

working from home and 24% reported not being able to

have casual conversations with their colleagues.

Perhaps more worryingly, 31.4% of the respondents said

that they felt “moderately depressed and alone at

home”. Isolation is, obviously, a widespread problem

amongst remote employees. Humans are wired for

social contact and sure enough, 61% of the respondents

felt the urge to connect with their colleagues.

Left out @ Home

What people missed the most out of office !!

Discrepancies @ Home

don’t follow fixed

meal timings49%

skip breakfast23%

don’t start work

at the same time

of the day

28%

don’t follow a

regular schedule23%

Coffee breaks with...

Casual Conversations

Formal Work

Face to Face


07

41%

50%

65%

69%

A major change in lifestyle always has its downsides

along with the advantages. Being able to work from

home is a dream that many Indian professionals have

had for a long time now. The COVID-19 outbreak has

forced 90% of the Indian workforce indoors. As this has

happened, many of their expectations of benefits have

been met but several other challenges have emerged.

It seems clear that the WFH story played out differently

from what many thought initially. Despite early

expectations of great benefits and employee

acceptance, it is evident from the findings in our survey

that some important problems exist that are preventing

employees from becoming productive. That apart, it is

also apparent that employees miss several things about

working in the office and are longing for human contact

and social connect working with their colleagues

brought them. In that light, perhaps it is not surprising

that 81% of the respondents don’t prefer to work from

home always, while 93% of employees want flexibility

between working from home and offices. Distractions,

infrastructural issues, feelings of isolation, and health

issues have become apparent. The drastic change is a

significant reason for the stress and anxiety that many

employees report facing.

To become productive, content, and energized,

employees need to make themselves comfortable in a

dedicated work area in the home. Once seated at the

desk, adopting the right posture with adequate support

from ergonomically designed chairs and desks will help

improve the focus of the employees while addressing the

needs of their health too.

Conclusion

81% don’t prefer to work from home always

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced

90% of the Indian workforce indoors

93% of employees want flexibility

between working from home and offices


08

We suggest a three-pronged approach towards staying healthy

and productive while working from home.

Making Work From Home Work !!!

One should have a dedicated work area at home with reduced clutter, fewer distractions, and maximum

privacy. This will not only help increase productivity but also improve physical and mental health.

Organize The Home Workspace

One should request the family members not to disturb

while at work and treat the work time like time at the

office.

The work area should be clean and made clutter-free, as

much as possible. Neither the kitchen nor the bed is a

good area to work, as it will affect the concentration.

The employees should find a secluded area in the home

with proper charging points and fewer distractions,

according to their personal preferences.

Remove clutter

Inform the family

Create a dedicated work area

09


Sit properly

One should adjust the chair in a way that one’s elbows

are at right angles to the keyboard while typing and that

the legs are at 90-degrees to the chair, resting properly

on a footrest or the floor. This will help relieve the

pressure from the back besides providing excellent

lumbar support. Keeping the back straight helps prevent

musculoskeletal injuries.

Adjust screen height

The screen height should also be adjusted to be at the

height of the eyes to prevent slouching or lowering the

neck to work. Investing in a laptop stand, an external

keyboard, and an external mouse, if possible, is also a

good idea. For those who prefer working on the sofa or a

bean bag, it is important to raise the laptop screen to

the level of your eyes to prevent slouching that could

lead to neck pains and headaches.

The work desk and chair should be chosen according to

personal comfort and ergonomic requirements for work.

If possible, the employees should look for chairs with

adjustable features like seat height, armrest, backrest,

and others.

Select the right desk and chair

Adopt the right posture

One should adopt an appropriate ergonomic posture which can help manage challenges faced due to

improper postures and also help increasing productivity and good health.

Working while standing can help reduce backaches,

improve concentration, and reduce some calories.

Employees could transform the storage cabinet into a

standing workstation, or even use the kitchen cabinet for

that purpose.

Stand and work

10


Drink enough water

Cut down on caffeine and drink water instead.

Employees could keep a bottle of water close by and

take frequent sips from it throughout the day. Having

one or two coffee breaks while working for long hours is

a good idea. It is also good to replace coffee with green

tea (or herbal tea) if possible.

Follow a healthy diet

Gyms will be closed for some time now but it is better to

follow a daily work-out regime to stay fit and active. Just

some stretches, free-hands, and sit-ups will serve the

purpose. Taking breaks in between work and stretching

the limbs a little is very important. Employees could walk

to the balcony and take some time to gaze at the view

outside or call a friend for a casual chat.

Exercise regularly & Keep moving

Follow fixed meal times

Skipping meals or not having food on time has severe

health consequences. Hence, make sure to follow fixed

meal times like in the office.

While working from home, it is necessary to follow a

healthy diet regularly, avoid junk food, and stay away

from processed food, refined sugar, and the like as much

as possible. This will not only improve health but also

provide more energy to work tirelessly.

Taking care of health

Disrupting the regular routine can have far-reaching effects on the health. While working from home, one

should be careful to rebuild a routine that helps create focus.

11


About Godrej Interio


12

Led by the largest in-house design team in the country in

the furniture category and awarded with 34 India Design

Mark Awards till date, GI aims to transform spaces with

its thoughtfully designed furniture to create brighter

homes and offices with products that have the highest

design quotient in aesthetics, functionality and

technology. With consistent pursuit of excellence and a

special focus on health and ergonomics, GI’s product

portfolio comprises a massive range.

Today, we design and manufacture furniture for office

spaces, homes, educational institutes, healthcare

facilities, laboratories and more. Along with furniture we

offer Audio Visual and 360 Degree Turnkey solutions.

Each of our product range revolves around comfort and

Godrej Interio (GI) is India’s premium furniture brand in

both home and institutional segments with a strong

commitment to sustainability and centers of excellence

in design, manufacturing and retail.

Disclaimer

This paper represents the opinions of the authors and is the product of professional research. This report has been

prepared for the exclusive use and benefit of the addressee(s) and solely for the purpose for which it is provided.

Unless we provide express prior written consent, no part of this report should be reproduced or distributed. While

every attempt is made to ensure that the information contained in this document is true to its best. However, Godrej

and Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., its employees, representatives, affiliates or any of its divisions, etc. shall not be responsible for

any reliance made on this paper or for any errors / omissions in information obtained from the source while preparing

this paper.

Currently present in over 650 cities with 250 exclusive

showrooms and 800 dealers, GI is one of the largest

divisions of Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., part of the

Godrej Group, one of India's largest engineering and

customer product groups.

aesthetics while delivering well-designed, fun and

functional furniture solutions. Briefly, Godrej Interio

transforms dream spaces to life!

GI commitment to the environment has resulted in

manufacturing products with lesser environment

footprint. Our pioneering efforts include designing less

environment burdening products, usage of eco-friendly

materials and setting up less polluting and consuming

processes, ensuring eco-friendly packaging and

transportation and finally the extended responsibility of

recycling/reuse of used furniture and scrap, thus

ensuring a lifecycle approach to green.

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