Connectivity is the key ingredient in telecommuting and moving your job online, which is not a problem for most metro areas, but for under-developed or outlying rural areas, this might be problematic. You may have the desire to work from home, but do you have the ability?
First, there are equipment requirements. If your employer does not supply you with the necessary equipment, you must have at least a phone, computer, and an Internet connection. Not having the tools necessary to telecommute will exclude you from the ability to work from home in the new world.
As this new home working environment emerges from the rubble of the COVID-19 pandemic, concessions may be made and subsidies offered by government agencies to expand service areas to include those hard-to-reach areas where little or no connectivity is problematic.
In metro areas and many communities, coworking establishments are springing up to enable those without adequate resources to share office space and equipment. This is a more than reasonable solution for expanding the abilities of those who do not have access to the minimum requirements for telecommuting.
Transportation to and from the co-working space is the next issue, but these coworking spaces will greatly reduce commute times and expenses for those who utilize these services which can act as a bridge for telecommuters with limited resources.
It will take time and effort to change the way we do business in the United States. While many Americans embrace the idea of working from home, there are others who are well adapted and prefer to conduct work from a corporate office. Some people prefer to keep a clear demarcation between work life and private life. Then there are workers who have become dependent on face to face interaction amidst the work environment and they find solace in this break away from home. These are the people who will find it less easy to convert to video chat and adapt to the telework environment.
As the world of work transforms, will staying at home cause more psychological stress on those who depend on corroborating and commiserating with coworkers for social stability and mental health support?
In our pre-pandemic society, dysfunctional families are rescued and are allowed to sustain themselves longer as family units because the family members are able to seek social interaction outside the home. This is important to maintain mental health and sanity in an otherwise difficult living situation.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, we have already seen the impact that basically being imprisoned or celled-in with at-risk family members has not fared well, as domestic abuse rates have skyrocketed. Increased rates of depression and suicide have indicated there is great concern with not being allowed to access what we have come to rely on as “normal” social interaction.
But keep in mind, that this is only temporary. Once the restrictions are lifted, the public will be able to resume all their normal social activities. The only difference being that telecommuting and working from home will become more of a valid option when looking to return to work if you’re not already telecommuting.