For many white-collar workers around the world, the recent widespread disease has meant having to work from home. Their usual office location has been out of bounds. This means different working practices, which have advantages and disadvantages for employers. But the big question is will they ever see their offices again?
Home working has made people realize what tasks they can perform at home, rather than going resularly to the office to do the same thing. It has given them more time with the family; they’ve been sleeping better and have saved money by no travelling or buying lunches on the go. And recent evidence suggests the majority of people working from home do as well and achieve as much as before.
For some people, this could be a permanent arrangement. In the UK, fifty of the biggest employers questioned by the BBC, have said they have no plans to return all staff to the office fulltime in the near future. Of course one main reason that fire couldn’t see a way of accommodating large numbers of staff while social distancing regulations were still in place. But the BBC also heard that some smaller businesses are deciding to abandon their offices altogether.
Other bigger companies are also looking at winding up offices to save money as many jobs can be performed remotely. Peter Cheese, head of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, told the BRC: “We are at a moment of real change in the world of work, driven by big existential crises.”
But this isn’t great news for everyone. Some employees can feel lonely at home, and there’s less opportunity to network or learn from other people, especially if they’re a new worker. Also, city centers may suffer most from a change in working habits. Shops and cafes rely on the footfall of office workers, and without them, they face closure. The future is still uncertain, which is why it may be too early to say where our desks will be permanently located. But the office of the future may be your home.
8. What’s the good news for companies allowing home working?
A.They don’t pay as many salaries as before. | B.They don’t have to pay rent for office. |
C.Their employees spend more time with family. | D.Their most employees work just as productively. |
9. What does the underlined phrase “winding up” in paragraph 4 mean?
A.Moving. | B.Shutting. | C.Sharing. | D.Transforming. |
10. What is the author’s attitude towards working from home?
A.Negative. | B.Disapproving. | C.Objective. | D.Favorable. |
11. Which can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Changeable working habits? | B.When to return to the office? |
C.The end of the office? | D.Uncertain future of work? |