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There was a point in 2020 when it seemed like working from home was here to stay for everyone. Technology had taken the strain and back-to-back Zoom meetings without the requirement to travel or waste time on chitchat, had made people more efficient in their roles. At the same time workers could enjoy a better work/life balance and companies had the opportunity to shed the cost of expensive to run offices – not to mention the environmental benefits of reduced pollution and congestion.

However, over time it has been clear that home working also has its downsides. Some workers have taken too much advantage of the improved work/life balance, whilst others have found it increasingly difficult to step away from their inbox and allowed their office to invade their downtime to the detriment of that balance. This has created inconsistency in performance and has been a difficult dynamic to manage.

It’s also become apparent that most dynamics have been more difficult to manage over digital platforms rather than in person, with conflict easier when people can’t read the nuances of body language and can easily hide behind their keyboards.

Many people have realised how much they enjoy the social aspect of going to an office and the training of junior employees is much more challenging when they are sat at a laptop in the bedroom rather than being ensconced in the company culture and expertise of their senior colleagues.

So, what’s the answer? Is working from home here to stay?

The approach being taken by many businesses is a hybrid model, that creates a balance between the two. Home working has its advantages and can be particularly useful for individuals who need to focus in-depth and over time on a particular task, but it comes with drawbacks.

A balance between the two, that offers employees greater flexibility looks to be the most likely outcome. Indeed, there are reports that the government is proposing to give all employees the right to request flexible working when they start new jobs.

Ultimately, this could be the best outcome if it means that investment is distributed more evenly between city centres and local areas. With people working from home two or three days a week, they may be more inclined to visit local shops and restaurants, and this could rejuvenate local high streets.

However, the one thing we have all learned over the last 18 months is that making firm predictions is rarely wise. All we can really do is stay alert to the changing dynamics of the evolving situation.