Working from Home is the new phrase we have become familiar with but what does it mean and could it help our local economy?
For this commuter it means, I have set up a dedicated workspace and most of my work is done online and I participate in more Zoom or Skype meetings than normal.
Our team is navigating the new work arrangements and we are trying to be cohesive in an environment of anxiety and uncertainty with no tech support.
I am maintaining the routine of getting out of bed at 5.30am but I have gained all this extra time, so I am enjoying dawn and sunset walks when I am usually on the train – ordinarily a weekend activity.
I fit in a bit of gardening mid-week – something that usually can only be done during daylight savings time or weekends.
However, one thing I am doing now, is spending more money locally.
Those two coffees a day and the odd muffin or lunch are now purchased locally instead of in Sydney.
How many of us could work from home when this situation ends?
Can all tiers of government make it easier for us to work from home or establish office spaces we can go to, that have tech support and other resources?
Imagine how great it could be if even only 30 percent of us were able to continue to work from home, great for the local economy, less pressure on the trains and maybe less accidents on the M1 freeway and more time for us to enjoy living here.
Surely government at all levels can facilitate businesses and staff to work from home as a best practice as opposed to a pandemic reaction.
Email, 16 Apr 2020
Sue Fletcher, Woy Woy