Decoding the 'work from home' trend catching up in India

The wide-screen desktop that sits on Ulka Mohan's study table gleams with a timely reminder. It is 6 am in Belmont, California, cue for the 53-year-old Product Strategist to carry in her breakfast of oatmeal and coffee from the kitchen to her workstation, tie her hair, plonk on a swivel chair, and start working — from home. Armed with loose sweatpants and solid focus, the mother of two would conduct meetings (via conference calls or webex) over the next nine hours, sometimes without a substantial break. But Mohan, who last worked out of a traditional office nine years ago, is now a deft hand at squeezing in quick trips to the kitchen, throwing in a load of laundry, and if lucky, hitting the treadmill — all along, her headphones in place. For an increasing number of 21st century professionals looking to save on travel time and energy, an arrangement like Mohan's holds definite charms. But not all work from home contracts are similarly structured, and it would seem that the success of such an arrangement depends on a gamut of personal and environmental conditions.

Take 28-year-old Souvik Ghosh, for example. A Consultant at Deloitte, he transitions effortlessly from a person who enjoys "the luxury of sleeping till the last moment and taking power naps in between" to the professional who can exercise the "discipline and planning" required to harness peak productivity. It also helps that of the nine hours (11 am-8 pm) that he works, his roommates are away from the house. "One tends to miss the office gossip, but largely, the lack of noise and distraction helps," explains Ghosh, who enjoys high flexibility, with his week split up neatly between work-from-home days and trips to the office, based on requirement. Unlike Mohan, Ghosh has no designated work area in his apartment, with his bed often serving as the center of activity, from where he aces projects and Swiggys in food with equal enthusiasm. For both professionals, the liberty to tend to family members — adolescent kids or an ailing father — while juggling work, tips the scale in favour of their current work situation. But the call is personal, as the two agree that such a work environment demands greater "self-motivation and accountability", a lack of which can be damaging.

Senior Copy Editor Shraddha Shirodkar achieved the crucial balance through simple habit. "The jump from professional to personal doesn't feel strange because I've gotten used to it now," quips the 35-year-old who acquired her current profile only eight months ago. But the perks are clear to Shirodkar already – "I like that I don't have to brave the sun, rain and the Mumbai traffic," she says, adding that the lack of newsroom bustle is compensated on the two days of the week when she is required to punch-in. Shirodkar too, reemphasizes the need for personal discipline required to reap the best out of the situation, without compromising work quality. "If I'm supposed to stay on the desk till 2.30 pm, it's sacrosanct that I'm available till the actual last minute and sometimes, beyond that," she insists. Having these tricks down to pat, Shirodkar finds the familiarity of her carefully picked out ergonomic chair and work lamp stimulating. And at her's, there is no need for the Do Not Disturb sign that hangs from Mohan's door, as as the only other occupant of Shirodkar's house, her husband, prefers to keep out of the way. Then again, over the years, Mohan's kids have also ensured that the sign is rendered decorative, by developing the habit of texting their mother first, before approaching her (if at all) in the middle of work.

A well-coordinated, supportive family, it would appear, is the final piece to the work-from-home jigsaw.

Pros

Better work-life balance; Non-work hours increased by cancelled travel time
Liberty to tend to family without taking leaves
Access to homely comfort, resulting in accelerated productivity
Freedom to work in home-wear
Lack of chatty colleagues and long lunch sessions

Cons

Lack of physical interaction and interpersonal bonding required for strong teams
Potential misunderstanding/confusion arising out of digital communication
Tendency to become lazy / unfit due to sedentary lifestyle