The pandemic has forced us to adjust to a changed daily routine, particularly to teleworking as a concept many employees were glad to embrace, whereas there are those who wish they can go back to office.

In the past months, there have been various studies on work and flexibility structure. Expert debate whether different models would have a more positive impact on employees. One of those is the 3-2-2 model. A Harvard professor estimates that the 9 to 5 working week will be transformed and that, in the future,  employees will work three days from office, then two from home and have two days off for weekends. It is believed that this working schedule represents ideal balance between traditional and new, allowing employees to organise professional and private life more efficiently and to be more productive and satisfied.

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Will organisations supporting this model be more successful and what will it look like in practice?

We are aware of the fact that teleworking has confirmed that on some days it is not necessary to be connected all eight hours and that we can finish some tasks much more quickly without interruptions and noise. We do not waste time in transport to workplace, while managing to save money and spend more time for hobbies, family and partners.

However, there are days when it seems that we spend twelve hours in front of a computer. Work from office still offers structure and limits are clearly defined. We do not feel cut off from our team, whereas connection is better and we need less time to complete those tasks that require consultations with peers.

We need interaction with others and work from home cannot be a permanent solution. That is why the 3-2-2 model seems like a good alternative because it combines ‘the best of the two worlds’.

Care for mental health of employees after the pandemic will certainly be additionally related to flexibility. Organisations where flexibility has always been part of corporate culture listen to needs of employees and are aware of the fact that they will want to keep the teleworking options in some form.

Even if organisations do not accept the 3-2-2 model in the future, I think that many will practice work from home at least on some Fridays in a month. It is important to adopt a model that will satisfy both employees and employers, and we are yet to witness changes at workplace.

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