Folha readers see quality of life at home office

Working from home is no longer a distant idea, with a disruptive tone, and has become a reality for a portion of Brazilians in the last two years amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to most readers of sheet consulted by the Reader’s Panel, the home office routine brought benefits and the gradual return of companies to the office is not advantageous.

Claudia Roveri, 48, is a municipal civil servant in Blumenau (SC), and says that she is still afraid of the pandemic, one of the reasons why she prefers to work remotely. In addition to security, she feels more productive.

Public relations professional Daia Leide, 49, from São Paulo (SP), agrees. “I focus a lot more, isolated in my corner, working without noise.”

Like them, other professionals enjoyed the experience of working in the comfort of their own homes. The most cited reasons: saving time, money and improving the quality of life. Freedom and autonomy were words used to describe the model, and habits such as the possibility of listening to music or wearing comfortable clothes also justify the preference.

For Larissa Miranda Jacinto, 33, the time she earns being at home is used to take care of her health and be closer to her children, being able to perform simple activities, such as meeting with them for breakfast. Among the disadvantages, according to the import analyst, is the extended workload. Experts have already pointed out that working from home requires more careful regulation.

Accountant Amanda Coelho de Resende, 32, from Belo Horizonte (MG), also a fan of remote work, indicates the lower number of meetings as an advantage of face-to-face work. Nivia Pontes de Souza, 36, from São Paulo (SP) is categorical: for the software quality analyst there are no disadvantages in the home office.

The hybrid model, however, was cited as a way of keeping interpersonal relationships alive. The psychologist from Recife (PE), Jaime Lima, 54, among other reasons, prefers the format because it is efficient to improve professional practice.

Daniel Arruda, 51, IT director in São Paulo (SP), believes this is the crux of the matter. “I miss interacting with people on a day-to-day basis. I also believe that physical proximity allows for a more effective dialogue to make quick decisions,” he explained.

Despite seeing advantages such as the proximity of the family and the possibility of living outside the big centers in the remote model, Daniel was one of the few readers who reported a preference for face-to-face work. In addition to him, Cláudia Aciari, 52, also from São Paulo, draws attention to the dangers that isolation can cause to mental health. The federal civil servant points to a decrease in anxiety and depression with face-to-face work.