Productivity while working from home

The UK is currently grappling with a persistent productivity puzzle, a challenge that defies easy solutions despite various attempts to boost efficiency. Some argue that the root cause lies in a failure of strategic direction and insufficient investment.

The paradigm shift induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring a widespread transition to remote work, offers a potential remedy to the ongoing productivity challenges faced by the UK. The newfound flexibility and adaptability demonstrated during this period highlight the prospect of an alternative working model that has yet to be fully harnessed. However, concerns have been raised that it may actually exacerbate the productivity problem.

The untapped potential lies in optimizing and institutionalizing remote work practices, leveraging technology to bridge the gap and enhance collaboration. By strategically embracing and refining the lessons learned from the mandatory work-from-home experiment, the UK may discover a sustainable solution to its productivity puzzle, capitalizing on the advantages inherent in a more agile and remote-friendly professional landscape.

Barrero, J.M., Bloom, N. and Davis, S.J., 2023. The Evolution of Work from Home. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 37(4), pp.23-49.URL.

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