Working as a journalist, in the traditional sense, has largely been in commercial office spaces with open-plan layouts and face-to-face interaction with both your team and talent.
However, with the sudden announcement of COVID-19 as a pandemic and health concerns
reaching an all-time high, many companies put in place ad hoc strategies for employees to
begin working from home.

It was a process of trial and error, as the unprecedented times did not allow corporations to
prepare for a situation such as this, and each and every company had its own unique
challenges.
Procedures had to be put in place to ensure a smooth transition to working from home, as well as making sure that products did not experience any hiccups in the editorial process and deadlines could continue to be met.We entered a new age of social isolation. Face-to-face interactions became almost non-existent for a period, with digital check-ins and online team meetings replacing the morning coffee chats in the office. Communication apps such as Microsoft Teams, Skype and more became vital in making sure everyone is on the same page and contactable with the press of the enter button.
Despite this, working from home has been a relatively smooth transition for most, and for
many, not all that different to a day in the office. Journalism allows you to work freely and remotely, so the difference in terms of the work itself is minimal. Most interviews are taken via mobile phone or email, and technology has been easily set up for remote access of any programs which you may need. This then begs the question of whether working in an office has become a thing of the past. The age-old debate of work-life balance has taken centre stage for the pro working from home crew, with many people stating that we have proved the ability to work independently and remotely with little to no change in workflow, so why not continue this way?
A major concern of management and corporations prior to the coronavirus crisis was that employees may not be able to focus as well as if they were in an office, similarly, employers being able to see their workers face-to-face and keep track of their work was favoured. The loosening up of micro-management, putting more trust in employees and giving them increased independence may be beneficial for all parties, as we have seen no decrease in productivity or quality of work.
For families with young children, a less-structured and rigid approach than working in an
office may ease the stress of finding someone to watch the kids or rushing home to cook
dinner, providing flexibility in having a career and maintaining a healthy home life.
With all the advantages, some of the biggest challenges we have seen is the lack of the social aspect of working in an office, which for some has negatively affected mental health and blurred the lines between work and leisure time.
In early April, Beyond Blue reported a 30 per cent increase in calls to their helpline since
restrictions came into force, with around 50,000 hits to its discussion forums.
Partnering with the Federal Government, Beyond Blue is offering additional mental health
support during the pandemic and have stated that it is extremely important for boundaries to
be put in place to ensure there is a clear separation from work and play.
The organisation recommended creating a separate office or workstation and to create a routine similar to when you get ready in the morning and commute to work. Leaving the bedroom, getting dressed in workwear and sitting down in your workspace will ensure a sense of normality and will also allow you to focus on the tasks at hand. Setting time limits will also maintain a healthy work-life balance, according to Beyond Blue. The organisation said to set a work schedule and stick to it. Establishing proper habits and routines enables you to keep a positive level of productivity and mental state. When all is said and done, there is not many negative factors stopping large businesses and corporations from moving to a modern work life. It could be time for us to step into the future and embrace working from home as a viable option.
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Shayling Ngo
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