Experiences from working from home

Much of the year 2020 and 2021 so far, has been spent at home, in lockdowns, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who could work from home were asked to do so, both in the public and private sectors. This brought with it a host of challenges, from slow and unreliable internet connections, inadequate technological solutions, and the unfamiliarity with working remotely and from home. Add to this the challenge of homeschooling, all done together in small apartments or housing units in capital Malé, and you get the picture! 

For this author, the pandemic did not pose any changes in the work environment, except for a cutback in hours during the initial days of the pandemic. Having worked remotely for the past seven years, as part of a global team of collaborators located across all corners of the world, with a maximum number of hours expected to be put in weekly, a set of deliverables, staff meetings as well as virtual rewards parties at the end of the year, the pandemic did not bring in any new changes. 

On a personal level though, working from home, however, blurs the balance between work and life, especially with online schooling thrown into the mix. Yes, there have been days when I had to work late into the night, after putting the kids to sleep. When I had to work during transit, while taking the kids to some activity or another in the limited windows where lock-downs were lifted, and while waiting for them to finish their online classes. It is all about balance and being able to get into the groove whenever the opportunity presents itself. It, however, gives me a sense of freedom and accomplishment that I did not experience when I worked in the government sector for over 15 years. 

There were the countless meetings, for which one must get a taxi, or hop on a motorcycle, to get to. The endless sitting in air-conditioned rooms, wondering if this could not have been discussed over a phone call or even an email. Post-pandemic though, government employees have had to resort to online meetings, using various platforms such as Google Meet, Zoom, WhatsApp and the like. One can join the meeting wherever one is, although there is sometimes still the question of whether it was really, really necessary to have a meeting on the issue in the first place. 

Online and remote working, however, requires a vast and extensive system of connections, databases and experts to make it effective, and kudos to the IT personnel who work behind the scenes to do so. It also requires clear identification on exactly what needs to be done and by whom, and when, an aspect that, unfortunately, appears to be lacking in most Maldivian establishments, especially in the public sector. Moving towards online and remote working may also mean less demand for the scarce office space needed, although some space will be required to encourage collaboration and group problem solving.  

One and a half years on, the government’s definition of the ‘new normal’ paradoxically seems, again, to encompass getting the masses back to the offices. But having gone through the pandemic, and with the lessons on efficiency that should have been taken from it, the government needs to rethink how the whole bureaucracy works, and truly put people and their mental & physical health at the centre of all decision making, and embrace the inevitable digital transformation.