85% of Filipinos shifted to WFH setup since the start of pandemic
About 85% of Filipino office workers were forcefully shifted to work from home (WFH) setup since the pandemic started last March 2020, according to a study by SEEK Asia, Boston Consulting Group, and The Network.
In a television interview, Industrial-Organizational Psychologist Prof. Jonathan De La Cerna who studied this type of work environment pre-pandemic said that “the internet really paved the way for the kind of work-from-home setup that we know now.”
But after two years of remote work, clinical psychologist Jade Ibhar Cuambot says that most professionals are experiencing fatigue due to the invisible boundary between work and home.
He added that workers are now associating their homes with work and stress.
However, the “workation” (work + vacation) setup was also popularized during this period. According to data from vacation rental company Airbnb, more than 85% of long-term stays in urban places were booked in the country during Q3 of 2021.
The firm stated that the topmost searched destinations include Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Baguio.
This setup gives employees the choice to work in their physical office, from home, or a vacation place.
Still, De La Cerna reminded the public that WFH does not apply to all kinds of jobs and industries. He emphasized that there are certain “socio-demographic characteristics or factors wherein the work from home set up could really be effective.”
