“W.F.H.”.…the No.1 ‘Work Place Acronym’ used since 2020
An acronym that has risen in popularity since Covid-19 hit the world in 2020, and a phenomenon that has changed the global working landscape for companies great and small.
‘Working-from-home’ was introduced as a necessity, something that would provide a short-term solution for corporations whilst combating a global pandemic, but soon, it became the new norm, one that corporations adopted to their corporate strategy as data provided insight into the positives of working from home;
- Performance can increase up to 13 percent by working from home
- 77 percent of work force shows an improved productivity by having the option to work from home
- Employees are 22 percent happier since WFH has been introduced
However, concurrent to how Hong Kong took a different approach to the handling of the pandemic compared to the West, WFH is also looked at quite differently in Hong Kong compared to the West…both by employers and employees.
Whilst many MNCs have adopted WFH in Hong Kong since the beginning of 2020 (majority international companies with a Western HQ), it’s still not a preferred option for many as the feasibility of effectively working at home is affected by two core statistics:
1) The average household in Hong Kong has 2.65 members
2) The average living space of housing in Hong Kong is 145square feet (13.5 square meter)
So as we step into the peak (I hope) of the 5th wave of the covid outbreak in Hong Kong, and with some adopting WFH for the first time since the pandemic began (both employers and employees), I wanted to share my top 5 dialogues that I’ve had with business and HR leaders over the past 24 months on what one can do to stay mentally healthy.
“Working from home can be extremely tough as the moment you wake up, you’re technically in your ‘working environment’, so creating a routine of ‘working hours’, ‘lunch breaks’, and ‘when to leave work’ is extremely important for your mental health, otherwise a burn-out is imminent.”
“Create a work-space! Whilst it’s easier said than done given the living arrangements in Hong Kong, creating the right ambience for you to work effectively is extremely key so that you can associate and disassociate from your work.”
“Setting boundaries. For most couples, this is the first time that you see your significant other in their ‘work-mode’, use it as an opportunity to learn more about each other and definitely don’t overstep.”
“Celebrate! Find the smallest of things and celebrate it. Working from home can initially be challenging and it can take time to get into rhythm. So to be able to do what you are meant to be doing is already a massive win, so for everything ‘productive’, learn to celebrate. Then soon, WFH/WFO, what’s the difference???”
“Create time in your schedule to do “non-work-office-stuff”. One third of one’s life is sleeping, and the next biggest category is working, so the relationships that you build with your colleagues are also pillars that one shouldn’t ignore. So, make time to have your ‘water cooler chats’.”
All in all, just do your best. It’s a challenging time. Whilst work is important, it’s a very stressful time that we’re currently experiencing, so be vocal and do your best!
Okay…I’m hearing a few of you saying “well, that’s not realistic…the employers will not think “just do your best””, but let me play the devil’s advocate here…as a talent advisor, our objective is not only to introduce a ‘job-seeker’ to an ‘employer’ that is aligned in skillsets but to dig deeper so that there is true compatibility, offering one an environment that culturally fits (both). If you’re having the ‘Question’ of is there such a place, then I think it’s time to have a little exploration and see what’s out there.
Thank you for taking your time to read right to the end. If this piqued your interest and you’d love to hear a bit more specifics about job opportunities relating to ‘innovation’, then ping us a message, and we’d love to share more.