Which of these describes you better:
I can’t wait to get back to the office where I can focus on my work!
OR
Working from home is the BEST thing to come out of this whole quarantine thing!
There have been some lively discussions on the pros and cons of working from home, now that it seems almost everyone is doing it.
In the days of COVID, there has been a somewhat forced social experiment as the conversation has turned from an intellectual to a survival exercise.
Have we, as a society, reached any conclusions about working from home that could change things going forward?
Check out this info from Stats Canada:
“Approximately 4.7 million Canadians who do not usually work from home did so during the week of March 22 to 28.
Almost five million workers who don’t usually work from home did so during the week of March 22 to March 28, 2020
When those who usually work from home are included, 4 in 10 workers (39.1% or 6.8 million) worked from home during the week of March 22. About the same number (38.5% or 6.7 million) worked at locations other than home. In addition, approximately 2 in 10 workers (22.4% or 3.9 million) were absent from their jobs, with 2.8 million of them being absent for reasons related to COVID-19.”
That is a VERY healthy sample size, by any measure!
How Are Canadians Feeling?
By all accounts, the majority of Canadians who can work from home enjoy doing so, at least part of the time. Some want the option to work from the office as well, but flexibility is very attractive to a large number of employed people. The semi-official buzz seems to be that this may be a permanent disruption caused by the pandemic of 2020. Workers (and employers!) have realized that a fixed location is not as crucial for many jobs as once thought.
Parents of young children, especially, have appreciated the ability to be close to their families while continuing to be gainfully employed. “Home-Sourcing” has also become popular with companies that run call centers, since they can have remote workers answering calls from home offices at a lower cost.
What Effect Will WFH Trends Have on Real Estate?
It’s no secret that real estate values in large Canadian cities have soared out of reach for many. Since the cities are where the jobs are, people have had to decide whether to give up on owning their home to live close to work, or endure a long, tiresome, daily commute from the suburbs.
With work-from-home arrangements becoming entrenched in our society for many (mostly white-collar) jobs, it is possible that we will see a shift in real estate markets.
What will potential homeowners do if they don’t have to drive into Toronto for work every day? This may be enough to drive them further into the suburbs. Hamilton, Niagara, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, Barrie, and other areas within driving distance of the GTA have already experienced migrations of buyers who gave up on owning in the city. The work from home trend can only increase the appeal to more affordable markets. As telecommuting becomes the standard, freedom to live anywhere will be a luxury that is extended to more and more working adults.
Creating a Home Office That Works
Many new home builders have already jumped on the trend – including a main floor home office in their floor plans. This is wise, given that recent surveys show that there is high demand for this feature. (Canadian results would be very similar to the American ones, based on what we hear from real, live buyers who are out house-hunting.)
The challenge for some of us is to create a functional work space in an older home that wasn’t designed for a telecommuter. This is particularly true if all the bedrooms are currently occupied.
Fortunately, a little creativity can help you carve out a space that serves your purpose.
If you are alone in a quiet house or apartment during working hours, it’s really easy to convert a corner of the kitchen or living room into an office space by adding a desk, some lighting, maybe a few file storage boxes, and even a bulletin or whiteboard.
The biggest challenge might be finding a spot close to plugs and cable hookups.
In shared spaces, where background noise and activity are a problem, it takes a little more effort to create a workable setup. Most of us would gladly use a spare bedroom with a door as a private office, even if it doubles as a guest room when company comes. But what if you don’t have that option?
One innovative solution is to use a walk in closet as a work space. With the right furniture and storage accessories, it can be quite cozy and functional!
Even a shallow closet with the doors removed can accommodate a desk and chair comfortably in some bedrooms.
If you think I’m being ridiculous…Google the word “cloffice.” You’re welcome.
Of course, if your home has a basement, and you don’t mind working down there – that’s an easy solution, too. Inspiration is everywhere.
Whatever your work from home arrangement is, though, make sure you organize it so that you can shut your work brain off when work is over. Whether you section off your workspace with a walls, a door, a curtain, a shoji screen, or something else – remember that you also need personal space and down time to rest and recharge.
What do you think of working from home -Do you love it or hate it? Do you have the perfect home office space? We would love to see pictures of what you consider the ideal home office.
