‘Slack’ staff v saving cash: Working from home divides South Australians generations

Are remote workers “slack” – or does office chitchat result in unproductivity? Aussies across the generational divide weigh in on working from home. Take our poll.

Working from home makes it easy for staff to “slack off”, if you ask baby boomer David Waylen.

But for younger generations it’s the unpaid commuting, meetings that should have been emails and the temptation to drop extra money on coffee that has them staying away from the office.

The work from home debate is a divisive topic among Australians.

Millennial Arpan Singh is among the 85 per cent who have returned to the office.

The 30 year old South Brighton marketing manager said being stuck at home for seven months during the pandemic and unable to socialise with his colleagues affected his mental health.

“If I have to work from home for the next two to five years, I’ll probably just go mad,” Mr Singh said.

“You can’t do team building stuck in your home. Working from home is not good for my mental health.”

Arpan Singh, 30, South Brighton. Picture: Supplied

Pavi Nuthakki, 39, Sturt. Picture: Supplied

Whereas millennial Pavi Nuthakki said going remote full-time had been a blessing for her mental health as the 39 year old team manager suffers from a chronic illness.

“Traditional nine-to-five office jobs are something I can’t keep up with,” Ms Nuthakki said.

The Sturt woman calculated that she saves about $300 to $500 a month just on petrol by working from home.

Just 15 per cent of South Australians work remotely part-time – compared to 27 per cent of the rest of the country, according to a University of Sydney study released in March.

THE PRODUCTIVITY DEBATE

David Waylen believes those who work from home are slacking off – an opinion he said was

likely influenced by his baby boomer status.

The Salisbury Business Association executive officer worked from the office throughout the pandemic and does not plan on changing.

Mr Waylen, 60, said employees only work at a maximum 80 per cent productivity at home because the environment lacked structure and had too many distractions.

“If you’re the boss, how can you guarantee productivity from your staff when they’re not in your immediate area,” he said.

“For those who don’t necessarily have a good relationship with their employer, it’s an easy out for them to slack off there.”

But Gabe Tan, a member of Gen Z, disagrees.

Salisbury Business Association executive officer David Waylen working from his office. Picture: Emma Brasier

Gabe Tan, 24, Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

The CBD digital marketing specialist has a hybrid working arrangement and the 24-year-old said managers must trust their employees.

“With current monitoring technology, employers shouldn’t be afraid to let their employees work from home. With all these tools, they should be able to maintain productivity,” Mr Tan said.

Mr Tan said the shift was helping him save for a house, as he was less tempted to spend on coffee and lunch.

“I’m more motivated to make food at home since the kitchen is just a 10-second walk from my workspace,” he said.

THE SOCIAL DEBATE

For mum Kristy Kelly, who is on the cusp of Millennial and Gen X, avoiding office mean less distractions and “unnecessary” meetings.

The 43-year-old talent acquisition manager from Mount George said working predomintly from home and occasionally from the office had improved her work-life balance.

“I’m not as productive when I’m in the office around lots of people having different chitchatty conversations and getting involved in things that you don’t really need to get involved in,” Ms Kelly said.

“I would be very reluctant to return to working in the office full-time.

“The freedom to pick up my kids from school is invaluable.”

Kristy Kelly 43, Mount George. Picture: Supplied

Sally Perrone, 45, Millswood. Picture: Supplied

Gen X’s Sally Perrone preferred the community and collaboration of a traditional office environment.

The Raine & Horne real estate business development manager, 45, finds working from home “isolating” and said she feared becoming a “hermit”.

“Working from home, I get lonely,” the Millswood woman said.

“I prefer to work in the office where people come and go, allowing for chats and touch bases.”

THE MONEY DEBATE

Gen Z Joel Nottle is on the fence.

Joel Nottle, 28, Hove. Picture: Supplied

The 28 year old tech specialist from Hove enjoys the social interaction and collaboration of the office but sometimes he doesn't want to see people.

It’s the commute and money that pushed him choose the hybrid model.

“It’s an extra two hours out of every day that I’m not getting paid for,” Mr Nottle said.

“On top of that, if I were to work from the office, I would easily spend $30 on food and coffee.

“With the hybrid model, I feel like I have the flexibility on days when I just don’t want to leave the house, I don’t want to see people.

“I think working from home one or two days a week allows for social interactions at the office. So, I love the hybrid model.”

Originally published as ‘Slack’ staff v saving cash: Working from home divides South Australians generations