Work from home was once a fringe benefit, rarely discussed outside select industries, but that changed abruptly in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced
offices across the world to shut their doors. With cities under lockdown and mobility restricted, organisations had little choice but to adapt. Digital tools, remote systems, and virtual collaboration became essential almost overnight, ensuring that work continued even as daily life paused. What was initially a short-term emergency measure stretched into a multi-year experiment. For nearly four to five years, remote and hybrid work became the default for millions of professionals. Employers benefited from lower real estate and operational costs, while employees gained flexibility and time once lost to commuting. Yet today, as more companies push for a return to physical offices, a familiar question is back in focus: if work from home proved effective during an unprecedented global crisis, why is it being scaled back now? The answer, according to corporate professionals who spoke to TOI, lies in a mix of productivity outcomes, cultural shifts, and evolving expectations. The Unexpected Productivity Boost In the early days of remote work, many employees noticed a sharp improvement in focus and efficiency. “Without daily commuting and office distractions, I could start work with more energy and focus deeply on tasks,” said Abhishek Gupta, who works at a multinational company. He added that his work was completed “faster and with better quality than in a traditional office setup”. Across industries, professionals echoed similar experiences. Flexible schedules allowed teams to prioritise output rather than physical presence. Rachit Jasrotia, a senior project manager at a tech firm, said remote work encouraged discipline and structure. “Many of the practices introduced during that period — flexible schedules, async collaboration, and an emphasis on clear documentation — have continued and are now part of how we operate by default,” he said. Work Without Borders Beyond productivity, remote work reshaped access to opportunities. Kriti, who entered the finance sector after the pandemic, observed a clear shift in global collaboration. “Earlier, we had limited work since they preferred work to be done by those who were in the US office,” she says. “But due to Covid, a lot of work started being done remotely, which gave Indian teams more opportunities to participate.” This shift reduced the importance of geography, allowing talent outside traditional headquarters to take on more responsibility and exposure. From Presence To Performance One lasting change from the pandemic years has been how performance is evaluated. “Productivity today is judged far more by outcomes — timely delivery, quality of insights, governance rigour, and the impact created,” said Gitanjali, a mid-level employee at a tech firm. “This is a notable shift from earlier years where visibility or presence carried more weight… Covid played a key role in normalising this outcome-focused approach,” she said. Flexibility Comes At A Price However, flexibility also blurred boundaries. Gitanjali noted an unspoken expectation of constant availability. “While I don’t feel explicit pressure to be ‘always online,’ the nature of managing a large and diverse portfolio sometimes creates an implicit expectation to stay reachable across time zones,” she said. Rachit echoed this concern: “Hybrid work gives tremendous flexibility, but without intentional boundaries, work can easily spill into personal time.” The Return Of Visibility As offices reopen, visibility is quietly regaining importance. Companies like Flipkart, Amazon, and Wipro have tightened or ended work-from-home policies. “In my experience, productivity at the workplace is increasingly judged by visibility rather than outcomes,” said Durgesh Kumar Jha, adding, “Work which is not seen, discussed, or repeatedly reinforced often goes unnoticed.” Digital visibility has also intensified. “There is pressure to respond quickly while working from home,” said Abhishek, though he still supports hybrid work, noting that “once expectations are clarified, this becomes manageable.” The Hybrid Middle Ground Despite the challenges, few employees want a full return to pre-pandemic routines. Instead, hybrid work is emerging as a compromise. Offices are becoming hubs for collaboration, while focused work continues remotely. “Work-from culture has created an opportunity to build more inclusive, flexible, and high-impact teams,” said Rachit. Abhishek summed it up simply: “Based on real experience, WFH works. It saves time, reduces stress, and improves focus.” What began as a crisis response has evolved into an ongoing negotiation—between companies redefining culture and employees redefining balance. The future of work, it seems, will not be about choosing home or office, but learning how both can coexist.
