Life’s a Beach… Or is it?

The concept of working from home has expanded into working from anywhere, including while on holiday. Imagine setting up your laptop on a serene beach, the sound of waves crashing in the background. Working from the beach epitomizes the hybrid work model's flexibility, where productivity meets paradise. This shift from the conventional office setting to a more adaptable approach allows professionals to blend work with a touch of vacation. But as we embrace this freedom, a new question arises: Is hybrid working truly working?

The very elements that make the beach appealing can also be distracting. The temptation to relax or engage in recreational activities might outweigh work commitments. Reliable internet and power sources can be problematic. Sand and water are not friends of electronic devices, posing risks to your equipment.

Not everyone is thrilled about their co-workers logging in from holiday destinations. A study found that nearly a fifth of workers get frustrated when logging on to virtual meetings to find colleagues working from abroad. This frustration can stem from perceived inequality and distractions during meetings. Or perhaps employees are not straight forward and don’t share their actual location with their colleagues and try to keep their holiday secret whilst also apparently working, leading to holidays that feel like work and work that really is a holiday! It’s important for morale and corporate unity that everyone feels that working from home is clearly defined and that it’s basically a ‘level playing field’.

The digital nomad lifestyle, characterized by constant travel and remote work, can also foster feelings of isolation and detachment from team dynamics and company culture. Furthermore, it can be difficult to switch off from work when your office is your holiday spot, leading to potential burnout. Without the structure of an office environment, sustaining long-term motivation and cohesion among remote teams might prove difficult. And so, while the concept of working from the beach is appealing, it requires careful consideration and strategic planning to ensure it truly enhances productivity and job satisfaction for all.

Once-upon-a-time in the not-so-distant-past, our work attire was more likely to involve pyjamas than pencil skirts. Shuffling out of bed and into our makeshift offices, sporting our business-on-top, comfort-down-below attire (thank you Zoom calls!) was a major part of our morning routine. Kicking off the morning with an iced matcha latte and a cat on our lap, while vaguely Keeping Up With the Kardashians in the background of our 9am meeting might sound like a dream come true. However, the office is calling.

The time has come to reclaim our favourite of the office-branded mugs and reacquaint with the communal coffee machine. Patterned pyjamas and endearing home office backgrounds have their charms, but the magic of bouncing ideas off our colleagues and having those impromptu hallway conversations that lead to eureka moments is undeniable.

It’s a surprise anyone could get a word in through the constant interruptions, which were often followed by a polite stream of, ‘Sorry, you go’, ‘no, you can go’ ‘are you sure?’ ‘What was I saying?’

The chapters of our work-from-home journey have been filled with a comedy of errors and anecdotes that we will cherish forever. But as we prepare to close the book and step back into office life, let’s not forget that office culture comes with its own set of perks that blend personality with professionalism.