Working remotely or going to the office: Rainy and windy days, traffic jams, should employees stay home?

But if employees lack awareness, working remotely can easily lead to reduced productivity.

Some young people think that employees should not be forced to be present at work all the time - Illustration: YEN TRINH

Companies with flexible working hours retain employees

Although he works in an office, Huynh Dien (29 years old, employee of a securities company in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) said his working hours are flexible. It is normal for him to not go to the company for a few days.

"There are times when I go to meet clients to discuss work, or in cases of illness, travel... As long as work efficiency and KPI are guaranteed," he said.

Having worked for several companies before settling down at his current job, Dien shared that he likes his current job partly because he can be proactive with his working hours.

Huynh Dien said his company has flexible working hours. That is one of the things he loves about this job - Photo: YEN TRINH

As for Dinh Nguyen (30 years old, living in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), due to the nature of his content creation work that can be done online, he has asked to work from home for a few days several times.

During the recent September 2nd holiday, the last day of the holiday was Tuesday, he texted his boss to let him work from home until the end of the week.

During Tet, he works online 2-3 days in advance to prepare to go home, to avoid traffic jams when everyone goes home at the same time.

When should employees work from home?

According to Dinh Nguyen, working hours depend on the nature of the job and the way each company operates.

Some companies monitor late employees through a minute-by-minute check-in system, but others are lenient. Because the employee may have a deadline the night before, went to bed late, and woke up late the next morning.

Similarly, some companies apply the form of working remotely some days a week, with some days coming to the company, alternating.

I think companies should also be flexible in allowing employees to work from home on rainy or traffic-jammed days, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Because after arriving at the company, they might not have the energy to work anymore.

However, working at home for a long time will reduce productivity due to lethargy, except for those working for foreign companies. Staying at home is comfortable but can easily make you feel lazy.

And importantly, when there is a plan or project, communicating with colleagues and bosses via chat or video calls is not really more effective than communicating directly.

Huynh Dien found that the story of companies regulating hours, working in the office or remotely depends on the nature of the job. Jobs that focus on results rather than presence often have flexible hours. Creative jobs, projects, or jobs that can be completed independently are suitable.

Whether working remotely or in the office, work efficiency is the most important, avoid being negligent and lethargic - Photo: YEN TRINH

On the other hand, there are jobs that require adherence to fixed working hours to ensure continuity. Workers need to be present in the office, such as in manufacturing, customer service, healthcare, education, and security and transportation related industries.

According to Dien, going to the office 6-7 days a week is not necessary if the work is not continuous. "Flexibility can help increase productivity, reduce stress and create a more satisfying working environment for employees. If possible, combine working in the office and working remotely to balance life and work," he shared.

Working remotely can increase concentration because people can arrange their own workspace. This means there is less noise or distractions than in an office. Working remotely saves on commuting time and energy, and allows people to work when they feel most productive.

Must ensure work efficiency, avoid staying at home and doing nothing

According to Master Le Anh Tu, CEO of iGem Agency, the story of Amazon Company announcing that employees would not work remotely received many different opinions, but basically the company followed the regulations.

Working at headquarters or working remotely is specific to each industry. There are business models that require more concentrated human resources, need continuous exchange and information between facilities, warehouses, factories, etc.

However, some other industries require creativity, going out to meet partners... do not necessarily require regular presence. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, many places have changed working habits.

Anh Tu shared: "For startups that do not rent a fixed headquarters, it is feasible for employees to work remotely. As long as it ensures information exchange, connection and work efficiency."

There are also stories of young people who do not like being constrained and want flexible working hours. They even refuse to accept jobs that require specific hours of presence at the company.

But if there is no connection and no guarantee of work performance, too much freedom is also something to be aware of.

According to Mr. Tu, in his company, although the rule is that employees must be present every day, it is not too strict about having to be present and leave on time.

"There is respect between employees and managers. When you are late or need to leave early, you should inform them. Don't let your manager not know where you are or what you are doing," he said.

Working remotely requires specific daily work reports

According to Huynh Dien, Working remotely can also lead to a decrease in productivity. Without direct supervision, some of you have difficulty maintaining discipline. You are easily distracted by family, pets, or chores. And the lack of social interaction, lack of motivation...

According to Ms. Nguyen Phuong, a human resources specialist at a transportation company in District 7, her company applies working hours at the office from 8am to 5:30pm every day. Occasionally, there are a few cases of working from home for a few days, going back to the countryside...

Ms. Phuong's company does not deduct salary if employees are late. Allowing remote work also depends on each job position. However, managers should require employees to be present a certain number of times per week for meetings or discussions.

If remote work is allowed, management needs to have a clear plan for employees, requiring reporting or completing specific tasks each day.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lam-viec-tu-xa-hay-toi-co-quan-ngay-mua-gio-ket-xe-nen-cho-nhan-vien-o-nha-20240920162145406.htm