The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the narratives for most workplaces in Nigeria and the world. Remote working, a system which was once unpopular is the fad in corporate organisations in Nigeria. Even with the gradual easing of the lockdown in Nigeria, some organisations have held on to this practice as it has proven to work for them. Experts say that this may be the new normal in the world of work in Nigeria. JOY NGWOLO sounded the opinions of employees in different sectors on the positives and negatives of this new work system.
‘The stress of commuting to work is limited’ – Damilola Opaniyan (Creative Strategist)
I prefer working from home because the stress of commuting to work is limited and I don’t have to bother about waking up early or beating traffic. Also, I find it easy to work from home because I still do everything I usually did at work with fewer distractions – the work environment teeming with so different people in different departments sometimes posed as distractions to me. It is quite different when I am at home because I can define boundaries for myself and let everyone know when I will be working and when I will be free to speak with them.
‘You will do more work when working at home’ – Daniel Olaniyan (Business Consultant)
Working from home means you will have to do more work because for me it is not easy to tell when to stop. Also, sometimes distractions at home could mean you have to work for longer hours and working outside an office environment means my routine is not as organised as it should be.
‘There are no distractions in the office’ -Zainab Folami (Legal Practitioner)
I prefer working in the office because there are no distractions there unlike when I am at home and cannot control the way the kids behave. Also, my parents tend to demand my attention more because they feel I am available. In the office, I have easy access to physical files because I work with a lot of them but at home, I don’t have such access. Also, in the office, I don’t have to spend money on data.
‘Working from home comes with financial implications’ -Idris Lawal (Teacher)
Working from home comes with financial implications. Since I started working from home, things changed. My salary reduced by 30% which is not a good feat. If the salary remains the same, I would prefer working from home.
‘I have improved mental health because there is less stress’ – Obakam Tom-George (Media and Communications Specialist)
I prefer working from home because I am more productive in the comfort of my home. I don’t’ suffer motion sickness anymore which comes as a result of commuting. Also, I have improved mental health because there is less stress.
