Working from home during the pandemic and the permanence of this approach when the world returned to ‘normal’ was always going to be fascinating.

Many businesses across the world launched into WFH in March 2020 and have never looked back – but, even then, our course was always firmly set on a full-time return to the office.

Even, two-and-a-half years on from the lifting of most restrictions, the debate about whether it’s good or bad for businesses and/or workers shows no sign of letting up. Each and every business will have its own experience and reasons for keeping its staff at home, bringing them back to HQ or striking a balance and going hybrid.

But, there could be a fourth option. We have launched a thought experiment to flip WFH on its head… how does HFW sound?

‘Homing from work’ challenges the usual notions of the post-Covid workspace by imagining a setup where employees go into the office on Monday – and stay there until the working week ends.

Imagine rolling out of bed and heading straight for your desk each morning. Everything the team needs to maximise productivity would be on hand, as well as all they could ask for to minimise stress that comes from juggling home and work lives.  

And with colleagues spending most evenings eating and socialising together, surely working relationships would flourish, further improving productivity by increasing employee satisfaction?

But, of course, this is not a serious suggestion – our office is free of beds – but the idea is meant to spark discussion about the benefits of bringing employees together in-person.

Our ‘homing from work’ idea aims to add to the conversation about the evolving nature of work and the need for businesses to determine the best approach for them when it comes to working from home or in the office.

We are all always learning but it’s especially important for those at the start of their careers to be part of an in-person working environment where they can pick up real-world knowledge from their peers.

Team members still have the flexibility they need to manage and enjoy their lives outside the office, but we all recognise the benefits of spending most of our working time together.