Written by Nada Mansy
Just imagine rolling out of bed to step into your office just a 10 second stroll away. That’s exactly what is about to happen for some of Google’s employees, as today a huge expansion of its California headquarters was revealed, including new homes for its growing workforce. Talk about work being a bit too close to home.
But it’s not really that special to Google. We saw a few articles today including this one at the BBC which talks about how tasks traditionally left to home-life are being carried out at work. From breakfast and exercise to email writing, face booking and online shopping. Sounds like a weekend break to me. And likewise, work is being taken back home – and why not when we have blackberries and laptops that give us that key remote-email access. A few studies indicate this work-home two-way shift started by the introduction of such technology. And perhaps more so in the current climate of job insecurity as workers try to take everything with them, never totally switching off from the office or from the home.
So this all prompted some interesting thoughts at the emel office, whilst we were listening to our iPods and munching on our brunch. (Okay, a little artistic license from me)
Is this greater flexibility good news, where sitting at our desks all day doesn’t just mean work, work, work? Or is it time go back to a strict separation of work and home life?