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TOPIC: General Studies 2
- Labour reforms
In News: The information technology industry has approached the central government ministries to flesh out changes to taxation and labour laws in line with the work-from-home model.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the economy in more ways than one, including the way in which business and life as we know it is conducted. In an effort to stay buoyant, every organization has enabled a wealth of mitigatory measures including adopting the virtual approach in the least disruptive manner.
While the coronavirus pandemic forced offices to migrate to WFH, many are expected to continue this even once a solution for the current health crisis emerges.
The Industry’s Perspective
The industry has also requested the government to make permanent several recent concessions extended until July, including relaxation of telecom regulations that allow back-office companies to work from home and move equipment out from designated special economic zones to facilitate remote working.
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Experts are of the view that a shift to a WFH model delivers gains to both the industry and to society as metros are decongested with lower migration from tier II and III cities that could lead to reduced carbon footprint.
The Challenges
Workspace: As the home environment is not designed to be the replica of the work environment, there are unique challenges in terms of identifying a workstation or conducting work without distractions.
Productivity: Productivity and focus are far more challenging for employees who are staying in small paying guest or co-living developments owing to the complexities of the shared space.
The belongingness: The office environment is one that will also nurture a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie for employees, thereby having a positive impact on productivity. Although Work from Home offers relief from commute, businesses can be more efficiently run in a demarcated office setup. This will enable the CRE fraternity to find a bridge between the workspace and the work-from-home space. The demarcated office setup can help improve talent management and the collaborative work experience among other concerns.
Data: Data security, during Covid-19 poses a major concern as people working from home are exposed to social engineering and phishing risks and are more likely to use potentially vulnerable services, thus jeopardising the integrity of both the individual and the organization. Data confidentiality is another impeding factor as many firms have client-related restrictions to avail work from home.
Mental Health: Research reveals that prolonged duration of working remotely without socializing can adversely impact the mental wellbeing of employees. A framework needs to be developed wherein employees are amply supported such to incorporate physical activity, meditation and creative activities in the interest of wellness
Fostering Innovation: With the pace of business changing the way it has, organizations are focused on reinventing themselves continuously. In the workplace, we typically have greater access to technology, interactions with our fellow colleagues, subordinates and a stronger cultural connection—all of which make innovation easier and drive the business forward.
Connecting the Dots: