The conundrum of working from home vs office working
What do fairy tales teach us about the conundrum of home vs office working?
Once Upon A Time, we all loved a good natter in the office kitchen. From discussing the football scores to a catch-up when back from our hols, a chat over a brewing teabag was unlike no other.
And we know – today’s technology means Milly in Manchester can be on Teams doing her 121 with Kirk down in Kent. Whilst Nina in Newcastle can take Cole in Cornwall through to an exciting second interview over Zoom.
But we reckon…
There’s still something to be said for the in-person get-together.
Why? Continuous novelty.
Stick with us, for a happily ever after.
At the start of the pandemic, we were provided with magic beans that grew a home-working beanstalk like never before. Finally, working from home wasn’t just a one-off cheeky Friday afternoon request to fit around the dentist. And we know, not everyone had the opportunity. But for many office folk the world over, it was time to rejoice.
Until we didnt…
Because the dog was getting too attached. The wardrobe collected cobwebs while the PJ drawer got our undivided attention. The food cupboards were just that bit too close for comfort. And retired Peggy next door was getting far too used to popping around for a chat.
The novelty wore off. And like Cinderella at midnight, the spell was broken, and we were left with a pumpkin for a carriage.
That meant, for some of us…
as soon as the offices reopened, we hi-hoed it down the motorway like the 7 dwarves – off to work we go. But for others – well, we went full on Geppetto and built our ‘workshops’ at home.
As we learn from Goldilocks, people want to try different things to see what’s just right for us. So, what if, rather than forcing one bowl of porridge over another, we supply the lot – a continuous novelty that employees can stir their own tastes into?
Here at H&H
We recently got the gang together for a team update. With an ever-growing agency, it was a little like the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. And on paper, it was just a 90-minute round-robin on the world according to us. We shared lunch. We enjoyed updates. But it was so much more than that.
Colleagues heard directly from their leaders on our epic quest so far and the treasures ahead. Newbies got curiouser and curiouser, meeting their new teammates face to face. It was real laughter. No one’s child ran in unannounced. Nobody had to ‘leave the meeting’ because the door went. The Kingdom was reunited.
And it won’t get old.
Because it won’t become the norm. After, we returned to our home offices across the land, looking forward to the next one. At H&H HQ, we’re constantly looking at how to make it a great base for when our out-of-towners visit.
And for our H&Hers living local, we’ve created a space for them to get stuck in, with things like Teams seamlessly available on the big screen for when meetings are in flow.
We think there’s something to be said for straddling both sides of the working environment.
Whether for the whole company or just your team. Be ready to flex, bend, do things differently, try things even though they may not work. Jack’s beanstalk reached the clouds, so let’s make it dreamy up there.
What will you do with your magic beans?
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