The recent outbreak of the coronavirus in the country has made citizens more precautious of their surroundings. Rightfully so as the virus is highly infectious, being able to live on inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic up to nine days. Simply being in close contact with someone who has symptoms of the virus can make you vulnerable to the disease, especially if they are coughing or sneezing.
Of course, the Philippines is definitely not the ideal space to live and work in as the virus continues to spread. The country’s overpopulation leads to the imminent crowded areas and shoulder-to-shoulder modes of transportation. So maintaining a safe social distance isn’t easy to do here in Manila. While washing our hands and wearing face masks if you are sick can be our methods of safety, we certainly can’t assure that everyone does the same. The thought that anybody could be infected with the disease can send one into a mental haywire, which is why working from home is a viable precaution that can save a lot of workers from physical and mental stress.
Recently, senators have appealed to employers to allow their workers to work from home amid the coronavirus threats. Senator Joel Villanueva addressed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to make efforts in encouraging employers to allow telecommuting. “…Telecommuting will also help minimize work disruption and stem the projected economic impact of the disease,” he said in a statement.
Senator Risa Hontiveros also appealed for the work from home option. “Kung pwede namang hindi araw-araw pumasok at mag-commute, mas maiiwasan natin ang risk of transmission,” she said in a statement addressing the DOLE.
Telecommuting is in fact a privilege provided by the law under Republic Act No. 11165 which allows working from home as a work arrangement which provides fair treatment for telecommuting employees. This means that they are given the same benefits, including pay rates, rest periods, holidays, and others. The law allows workers the opportunity to avoid traffic and other hindrances that can impede their productivity with work. In recent cases, it can also help in protecting workers from the threats of the coronavirus.
Going remote
A recent study has shown that one in four employees have quit their jobs due to long commutes. The same study also concluded that people who work from home were more productive than those in the office, citing that they only had 27 minutes on unproductive time compared to in-office employees who stay idle for 37 minutes excluding lunch and standard breaks. Another study by Gallup showed that employees are less likely to experience burnout when allowed to choose how and when to complete their tasks.
Evidently enough, working from home still produces just as much productivity as working in the office. Now it is also a method of keeping employees safe from harm which is also a mandate required under the country’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Law.
Twitter has already taken a step further by strongly encouraging all their employees globally to work from home in response to the coronavirus, while those in Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea are required to do so. Google has also advised the same for all their North American employees. Travel limitations and work from home have also been implemented among many international media outlets such as The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.
While not every worker like those in food service, manufacturing, and construction can have the privilege of working from home, the individuals who stay home can lessen the probability of the virus spreading for the rest of the community. Lesser populated roads and transportation vehicles can reduce the risks of having the virus infect more people. However, this is also a call for the government to provide extra protective measures in the work spaces of those who have to physically attend work.
The virus then poses a new challenge for society to do away with the stereotypes of working from home as an excuse for unproductivity, but rather accept it as a new and viable way of working. While the virus has made telecommuting more prominent, people must understand that working from home is not a threat upon the productivity of workers—it is rather a method of taking good care of them.
Header photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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