Latest news with #WFH
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Five, including woman crypto handler, arrested for duping job seekers in WFH scam
New Delhi: Five individuals, including a woman cryptocurrency handler identified as Nidhi Agarwal (47) alias 'Crypto Queen', were arrested for allegedly duping people under the pretext of offering work-from-home (WFH) jobs. Agarwal, a self-proclaimed businesswoman, allegedly converted the proceeds of the fraud into USDT (Tether) cryptocurrency. She operated locally but communicated with foreign contacts through international channels, according to police. The case came to light after a complainant, while searching for a job, was duped of Rs 17.29 lakh through a WFH scam on a chat app. The victim was assigned bogus online tasks and repeatedly asked to make UPI payments under the pretense of earning commissions. A case was subsequently registered. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Deputy commissioner of police (north) Raja Banthia said the defrauded money was routed through mule accounts, converted into cryptocurrency, and laundered via a network of crypto buyers operating over social media. Simultaneous raids across multiple locations in Delhi led to the arrests. "One of the accused, Krish, a rider with an online bike taxi platform, played a key role in managing the flow of defrauded funds. He collected UPI IDs and bank account details from associates and forwarded them to crypto buyers through chat apps," the DCP said. Police said the funds were either withdrawn in cash or converted into USDT through Agarwal, who allegedly worked locally while maintaining communication with foreign counterparts. Another accused, Deepak, a graduate, allegedly identified and recruited individuals willing to share their bank accounts for illicit transfers. He also coordinated with Krish for physical cash movement and introduced co-accused Gaurav, who in turn brought in Manthan, a 19-year-old who allegedly provided his bank account to process large transactions for small commissions. Gaurav confessed to connecting Manthan with Krish and Deepak, and acted as a middleman by transferring account credentials, QR codes, and UPI IDs via a chat app. All three admitted to being present during cash handovers for crypto purchases. Police said the wallet address used for USDT transactions was shared among the accused in chat messages. During interrogation, Agarwal too admitted to converting the collected cash into USDT tokens. She revealed that she sourced USDT at wholesale rates from informal suppliers and resold it at a profit, earning commissions on each illegal transaction.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
32 "Lifesaver" Home Office Items That'll Improve Your 9-To-5
An adjustable standing desk converter, because we all know sitting for hours straight is terrible for our health. With this, you can easily take standing breaks throughout the day while still working, and when you're sitting, it functions as a regular monitor stand so you can set your screen at eye level. Or a FlexiSpot electric standing desk if you're ready to go all-in on that sit-to-stand life. With just the push of a button, it'll raise itself up — and since you can save up to four preset heights, you can literally hit the button, walk away to get a coffee refill, and come back to your desk all ready to go for a standing work sesh. And a mini stepper that'll be a game changer, especially if a standing desk is already part of your WFH setup. It comes with resistance bands you can use to make it more of a full-body workout, but you can detach those to just use the stepping function and incorporate some exercise into your busy day! Multitasking, we love you. Or a compact under-desk electric treadmill for folks who want to incorporate even more movement into their sedentary schedule. It has an LED display that shows basic metrics like time, speed, and distance; a quiet motor (so you can focus on the work in front of you); and Bluetooth capability so you can even play music or a podcast through it. An affordable 24-inch monitor in case working off just your laptop isn't cutting it anymore. It'll give you a much larger workspace and the ability to drag windows seamlessly between your connected laptop and monitor. Plus, you'll feel more comfortable when you're not crouching over your MacBook every day. A slim laptop stand to raise your laptop and bring it closer to eye level, especially handy if you use it with a desktop monitor. This is better for the overall ergonomics of your setup, but it also ensures your laptop gets ventilation and doesn't overheat. A set of stackable clear drawer organizers for organizing the chaos inside your desk drawers and keeping your pens separate from your sticky notes. Because digging around to find the specific thing you're looking for only makes things messier! A memory foam lumbar pillow you can strap onto practically any chair for instant lower back support, simply a MUST if you work long hours at a desk — or if you drive long hours, since you can use this in a vehicle, too! The mesh cover also keeps this pillow breathable so it doesn't get hot over time. And a memory foam chair cushion (yup, from the same brand) designed to relieve pressure on your tailbone, hips, and lower back while sitting for long periods of time — reviewers say it's worked wonders for their aches and pains. Basically, it's the best thing you'll do for your tushy all year. Plus, an adjustable foam footrest for placing under your desk, giving your feet a soft yet firm support. It essentially brings the floor to you, extremely helpful if you're on the shorter side and your feet don't easily lay flat on the floor! And if you tend to get restless throughout the day, you can flip it over and rock back and forth. A six-outlet wall charger and surge protector, which doubles as a night-light with a dusk-to-dawn sensor — it automatically turns on when ambient light in the area isn't enough to see. It's designed to handle those annoyingly bulky chargers, PLUS it has two USB fast-charging ports, meaning you can finally put an end to your daily routine of plugging and unplugging things underneath your desk. Or an ultra-thin socket cover with an attached power strip. The cover lays flat against the wall so you can avoid awkwardly bumping into it and actually push your desk up against the wall. It also looks *much* cleaner and is easier to hide while still giving you access to several outlets for your devices! A desktop whiteboard designed to fit in that lil' space between your monitor and keyboard for writing quick notes, ideas, or even motivational messages for yourself. A little pull-out drawer holds your dry-erase markers and other small accessories! Brilliant cable raceways that attach adhesively behind your desk so you don't have a bunch of cords just hanging down beneath — these slim raceways allow you to direct the cables toward your power source while completely hidden from view so you can basically forget they're there when you sit down to work. A memory foam gel pad to provide ergonomic support for your wrists and avoid the aches and pains that come with typing at a computer all day. Seriously, once you get wrist pads, there's no going back. An anti-fatigue mat because if you've incorporated standing breaks into your day, you'll notice that it puts a lot of pressure on your feet and legs. This mat's high-density PU foam helps absorb the shock you'd normally feel in your muscles and joints from standing — that way, you can feel comfortable standing for longer! A cordless Logitech vertical ergonomic mouse instead of struggling with a laptop trackpad. Reviewers with carpel tunnel, arthritis, and other kinds of hand pain or mobility issues say has brought them relief while working at the computer. The vertical design helps relax your wrist and promotes a more natural hand position while you work. A colorful desk mat that's waterproof so your desk will be protected when you accidentally knock over your drink or spill some cereal while working (oops). It doubles as a mousepad *and* helps tie your entire aesthetic together if you have a color scheme! An adhesive monitor clip for holding larger papers and keeping them organized. This handy clip can hold up to 30 sheets at once so you can easily reference while typing, especially handy for note-taking and data entry. A USB-powered cooling pad if you're working on an older laptop that starts to sound like a jet engine after a while. This slim pad connects directly into one of your laptop's USB ports and uses its three powerful fans to keep it cool and quiet. It'll also protect your legs if you like to work with your laptop directly on your lap! An electric mug warmer to keep your coffee — the lifeblood that fuels your mornings — hot so you're not unpleasantly sipping on room-temp brown water by 10 a.m. With this electric warmer, you'll be able to happily enjoy your caffeinated drink at the perfect temp for hours. Or a kneeling chair with an innovative design that can help you sit up straight (because most of us who sit all day have *terrible* posture), and it also alleviates pressure on your back and hips, since it distributes your weight evenly while keeping your spine aligned. A transparent monitor attachment if sticky notes are currently taking over your desk — with this, you can keep them organized and neatly visible next to your monitor for easy reference. A game-changing hanging wall organizer you can hang just to the side of your desk for organizing all your papers into color-coded sections — the colored folders are slightly transparent so you can see what's inside. Floating bookshelves if there's a mountain of books cluttering up your home office. These clever shelves make it look like the books are just floating there in place! You can mount books on one of the nearby walls, letting them double as decor while freeing up your desk space. Prismatic window film to cover the windows by your desk and let the sun cast gorgeous rainbows across your workspace and around the room because surrounding yourself with a bit of natural beauty can be inspiring. Plus, it adds a lil' extra privacy as well. A charging station dock and organizer for keeping your tech gadgets in one area of your desk while charging them at the same time (thanks to cleverly placed holes at the back and sides — built-in cable management!). You can stash your closed laptop in this when the work day is over, plus any tablets or phones you keep at your desk. Some adjustable shelves to house both your office supplies and decor and help you tidy up that cluttered desk. It's instant organization that you get to appreciate visually every single day, and the adjustability means you can always switch up your setup to keep things fresh! A compact heated massager you can strap onto your desk chair anytime your aching lower back or shoulders could use some sweet, sweet relief. Its rotating nodes will deliver a heated deep tissue massage so you can release some of that stress that comes from sitting all day and back-to-back meetings. A set of memory foam armrest pads — being conscious of the position your arms are in while sitting is important, and while they *should* be resting on your armrests (so your shoulders can relax), that hard plastic can cause soreness. These'll conform to your elbow and arm to relieve pressure while you work! A compact, TikTok-famous rolling desk bike so you can feel *extra* productive as you tackle the day's tasks by incorporating some lower body movement into your routine. If you tend to get restless legs while working and standing breaks aren't helping, cycling can help you feel better and more focused as you work. A pair of blue light–blocking glasses, because we all stare enough at our phone screens as it is without adding another eight hours of staring at our computer. These lenses protect you from blue light that can cause eye strain and headaches and even mess up your sleep cycle.
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
From SG HDBs to JB condos: More Singaporeans are now ‘working smart' from across the Causeway by earning SGD income, but living RM lifestyle
SINGAPORE: These days, a growing number of Singaporeans are ditching their HDB leases and office cubicles to do something a little more radical—live in Johor Bahru (JB) while working remotely for a company in Singapore (SG). It's the age of the borderline digital nomad—where your office view might be a private condo pool in JB, but your paycheck is still in glorious SG dollars. MoneySmart's Kesavan Loganathan explores whether this dream lifestyle is truly possible, or if it's just a Wi-Fi-buffered fantasy. So here's the scoop from what we got from him. 💸 SGD income + RM lifestyle = Financial flex For many Singaporeans, the JB digital nomad lifestyle feels like a cheat code to adulthood. 'Living in JB while drawing a Singapore paycheck sounds like the ultimate life hack,' Kesavan writes. From groceries to rent, the cost of living in Malaysia is significantly lower—up to 50% in some cases. Renting a condo with a pool in JB is around S$500+. A similar setup in Singapore could cost three to four times more. Factor in a favourable exchange rate (S$1 ≈ RM3.31), and suddenly, you're not just saving—you're upgrading. Think café brunches without guilt, private parking, and yes, maybe even a second car. 💻 COVID-19: The WFH (work from home) revolution opened the border (virtually) Before the pandemic, working remotely from JB might have been unthinkable. Now? It's surprisingly common. A survey of 1000 Singapore workers interviewed found 77% of them value flexible WFH options—and some even reject jobs without it. Employers, faced with a workforce increasingly fluent in Zoom, Slack, and quiet quitting, are adapting. JB's internet infrastructure has stepped up, too, with 5G coverage expanding across the city. 'Video calls and online work run smoothly on Malaysian broadband,' Kesavan noted. Plus, co-working cafés are on the rise, just in case your condo Wi-Fi throws a tantrum mid-meeting. 🚗 The commute: Manageable, if you play it smart Living in JB doesn't mean never seeing the Lion City again. Some remote workers cross the Causeway once or twice a month to attend meetings or catch up with colleagues. 'Off-peak, a car or bus ride across the Causeway can indeed take under an hour—quicker than some intra-island commutes in Singapore!' Kesavan points out. Of course, peak-hour crossings are a different story (2+ hours in jammed immigration lines). That's why smart nomads travel off-peak—or wait until 2026, when the RTS Link train is expected to zip commuters from JB to Woodlands in just 5 minutes. Until then, early birds and night owls win the border-crossing game. 🏠 Space, sanity, and second cars: JB living is pretty chill Let's talk lifestyle. A studio apartment in JB might cost around RM1,500 (S$400), and a 3-bedroom condo could be found for under S$800. For Singaporeans used to cramming into HDB flats, it's a spatial awakening. As Kesavan notes, 'Daily conveniences in JB are a mixed bag of pleasant surprises and slight adjustments.' You'll still get your bubble tea, food chains, and shopping sprees at Mid Valley Southkey—while also enjoying the kampung calm, night markets, and maybe a garden in your yard. English is widely understood. Grab drivers/riders are everywhere, and if you miss your team lunches, there are co-working spaces with free-flow coffee and surprisingly productive vibes. 📄 The (not-so-hot) fine print: Visas, taxes & employer rules Here's where dreams meet documentation. Yes, Singaporeans can enter Malaysia visa-free for 30 days. But if you're planning to actually live there, don't pull a monthly 'in-and-out' visa run unless you like awkward conversations with immigration officers. Here's your legal options: MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home): A long-term visa (renewable 5-10 year pass) for those with strong financials. Great for families, but requirements can be steep. DE Rantau (Digital Nomad Pass): Tailor-made for remote workers. It allows you to stay up to a year (with the possibility of extension) with proof of income—and you can even bring your spouse and kids. Bonus: If you stay in JB for over 182 days, you're considered a tax resident. But don't worry—foreign income (like your SGD salary) may be exempt from Malaysian taxes, especially if you don't remit it formally. Still, consult a tax pro. No one wants a nasty surprise in April. Just as crucial: Tell your boss. Some employers are cool with remote work from across the border. Others might raise eyebrows (or compliance concerns). In this case, it is the best policy and it's the most legally sound. ⚠️ The not-so-glam bits: Downsides you should know Before you run off to pack your bags and rent a JB condo, take note: Commuting can be a nightmare if done daily during peak hours. Border controls can throw a wrench into your routine (especially during pandemics). Services like banking, bill payments, and public transport aren't quite as frictionless as Singapore's. Social factors—you'll miss some impromptu meetups and birthday dinners. Employer perceptions may not always be in your favour. Only 16% of employers fully support long-term remote work. However, with planning, effective communication, and a dash of patience, these issues can be resolved. 🌏 So, is the JB dream worth it? In Kesavan's words, 'It's not about 'escaping' Singapore so much as extending your reach.' JB offers more than cost savings. It offers space, slower pace, and the sense of reclaiming life's simple pleasures without severing ties to Singapore. For many digital nomads, it's the best of both worlds: nasi lemak or roti canai breakfasts and SGD bank balances. The lifestyle's not for everyone—but for those willing to cross a border for a better work-life balance, JB might just be the affordable escape next door — just ask Afiq Zayany, a Singaporean Grab rider, who cracked the code to living large on a lean budget by living in Johor Bahru while stashing away six figures annually, while probably sipping teh tarik happily by the pool of his RM1.4 million (S$399,000) villa. As Afiq says with a shrug, 'To get this… I worked as a Grab rider,' and by 'this,' he means the dream—one many Singaporeans are still dreaming about. You can read more about his story over here: Singaporean Grab rider shares how he earns six figures and lives in a RM1.4 million villa in Johor Bahru
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Kirstie Allsopp launches another scathing attack on working from home and says it 'has to stop' as it's 'destroying young people's mental health'
Kirstie Allsopp has launched another scathing attack on working from home and claimed it's 'destroying' young people's mental health. The London-born Location Location Location host, 53, took to X/Twitter on Monday morning to declare that 'working from home s***' has 'to stop'. She said that she herself has 'always' needed to travel for work, from commuting to an office, being out and about to view properties, or travelling long distances across the country for filming. Kirstie has previously made her opinion clear about non-office working, including sharing a picture of an empty Tube carriage on a weekday morning earlier this month, and warning 'it can't be a good thing'. Today, she reinforced her anti-WFH stance as she took to social media to slam working from home, especially for young people who aren't being given crucial experience of 'real life colleagues, office politics, socialising after work'. Kirstie said: 'This working from home S*** has to stop, it's destroying mental health for millions of young people, and forcing many others to spend far more on housing just for the extra office space. 'It may suit middle class, middle aged, middle management, it does not suit most young people. 'For every older person who loves working from home there's a younger person who has no experience of real life colleagues, office politics, socialising after work, or having to deal with adverse situations while away from home.' Kirstie is best known for fronting property shows on Channel 4 such as Location Location Location and Love It Or List It alongside her co-host Phil Spencer. The property guru's post met with mixed reactions after racking up more than 300,000 views in mere hours. One person said: 'I think this is a pretty wild claim to make without evidence? Huge numbers of people find WFH beneficial for their mental health'. But Kirstie simply replied: 'AND huge numbers don't!' When one person queried: 'Where's your office?', Kirstie responded: 'I have also ALWAYS had to travel for work, either to an office for 6 years, or in and out all day going to see properties or long distances across the country for filming.' Responding to criticisms, she added: 'I know that many young people are negatively impacted by working from home & that there's a fundamental unfairness in that those who work the hardest, for the lowest wages, rarely have the choice to WFH. 'FFS This is just pathetic, I never said 'get rid' of working from home. The issue is that it is forced on many and that negatively impacts young people. We've have the highest WFH in Europe, why? It's hardly as if we are the biggest country.' Many agreed with Kirstie's statement, writing: 'Absolutely luckily my two eldest children have London jobs and both go in every day. Would be miserable for them to be at home and where do they learn work social skills if stuck in their rooms!'; The Location Location Location host, 53, took to X/Twitter on Monday morning to declare that 'working from home s***' has 'to stop' 'Caused the downfall of so many cafes, pubs etc too.'; 'There's plenty of Middle Agers not enjoying it also Add in having to keep your lights & heating on 24/7 in colder/darker months!'; 'Attractive for some but not for all. Those about to embark on their careers age 18 onward. Sitting in their bedrooms of their parents homes. Staring at a screen. I remember being 18. First job in London in the 90s. Drinks after work. They need to socialise'; 'Working from home is one of those things that seems attractive at face value, but brings subtle and diverse drawbacks. Aside from its effect on teamwork, it is de-socialising. My pension-age part-time job keeps me sharper. I meet new people. I'm going to a staff event. All good.' But others were more sceptical, writing: 'I'd rather not spend several hours per day commuting thanks'; 'That's nonsense Kirstie and you know it. Working from home is flexibility. A laptop at the kitchen table is far less expensive than a commute.' Kirstie has previously sparked strong views about working from home - with her tweet sparking a mixed response. Earlier this month, Kirstie posted a photo of a 'totally empty tube carriage' on a Central Line train on X, formerly known as Twitter, and captioned the post: 'Don't quite know what it says but it can't be a good thing.' The property guru's post met with mixed reactions after racking up more than 300,000 views in mere hours In the comments section, she said the photo was taken after Mile End station, with the train heading east. The presenter's tweet quickly went viral, with more than five million views and 1,300 comments. Several X users pointed out that Kirstie had missed rush hour and most Londoners were probably already at their desks by the time she boarded the train at 9.20am. One comment read: 'It's 9.20, most people start work at 9am. Plus you're going the opposite way to the majority going into work.' Another X user agreed, adding that Central Line trains from Mile End were 'packed like sardines' at 7.30am. 'You clearly have never worked in the City. I would have done two hours of work at my desk by that time.' Another quipped: '[The photo says] No one was late for work?' 'Kirstie most people have jobs,' one comment read. However, her tweet backfired as X users pointed out that 'most people were already at work' by the time the Location, Location, Location presenter took the train at 9.20am on a Tuesday morning Several others suggested lots of people were likely working from home on the hottest day of the year, as temperatures in London rose to 34.7C on July 1. However, others noted that it showed a marked lack of tourists. BBC Radio 4 presenter David Aaronovitch replied asking: 'Too hot?' In response, Kirstie listed all those who don't have the privilege of working from home, writing: 'Not for me or our crew, or police officers, or nurses, supermarket workers, or cabbies, and all the other people who don't get paid to work from home or don't take days off when it's bloody uncomfortable.' Another X user listed all the possible reasons the carriage was empty, adding factors like 'annual leave' and the fact that lots of people 'walk/get the bus when it's hot' because the Central Line doesn't have air conditioning. 'What's even the implication here?' one person questioned Kirstie's tweet. 'Can it not just be a coincidence? You've already got several factors that would mean fewer people - the time, the direction, the location - why read anything more into it?' Her tweet, which has over 1,300 comments at the time of writing, drew mixed reactions Some, however, appeared to agree with the broadcaster as one X user replied: 'Working from home has killed all the sectors that support city life. 'Serious consequences for the economy.' After her tweet blew up online, Kirstie reposted some of the nastier messages she'd received in response as the broadcaster noted 'Twitter just isn't fun anymore' while condeming the 'constant abuse' she endured online. Replying to one X user who questioned whether Kirstie 'ever had a proper job', she said 'I'll take no lectures on not understanding the world of work' after having taken the Tube to work every day for five years. She also pointed out 'there are many reasons an empty Tube' is a worrying economical sign, questioning why there were no tourists or people who work weekends 'having Tuesday off and going to Stratford'. When someone suggested Kirstie, who is the eldest daughter of the late Lord Charles Hindlip, 'wouldn't know that' most people get to work before 9am, she replied the debate was 'not worth it anymore'. Kirstie's post comes after the TV host revealed how she once received a random FaceTime from an ex-househunter she had helped on Location, Location, Location. The property broadcaster, 53, starred on 25 Years of Location, Location, Location with her co-host and longtime friend, Phil Spencer, 55, in May. The pair were discussing some of the couples they had helped since the Channel 4 programme first aired in 2000. In this time, Kirstie and Phil have carried out 469 searches, viewed 1,810 homes and been trusted with more than £176,000,000 of money from house hunters. Kirstie reflected on the episode where she attempted to find Ruth and Anna a flat the week after the Brexit result. The sisters ended up losing out on the property due to the level of uncertainty that came with leaving the European Union. However, Kirstie divulged that she actually negotiated the apartment they bought a year after they starred on the show, in 2017. She said: 'We lost out on the property we ended up bidding on, a year later I negotiated the purchase of the flat that they finally bought. I always remember that because I always say to everyone don't forget, we're always there for you.' Kirstie then revealed that every home buyer that goes on the show has her and Phil's personal mobile numbers - and she once received an unexpected drunk call from a past Location, Location, Location participant. She said: 'Our househunters have our telephone number. I always say 'Don't call when drunk!'' But being able to call the hosts at any time appears to get you brownie points in your friendship group - and one intoxicated ex-participant decided to put it to the test. Kirstie said: 'It doesn't always happen, but someone did call me once from the races, FaceTimed me [and said] 'Look here I am I wanted to prove to everyone that I had your number''.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Work From Home: A profitable strategy for companies, but a growing burden on families, ETHRWorld
Advt Advt By , ETHRWorld Contributor Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETHRWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETHRWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. Since the global shift to Work from Home (WFH) during the pandemic, many companies have embraced it as a long-term or hybrid strategy. From a business standpoint, WFH offers undeniable cost and operational advantages. However, while companies gain, many employees—and more importantly, their families—are silently bearing the brunt of this WFH Advantage : Organizations have identified several core profits from the WFH model—• Cost Reduction: One of the most immediate and measurable benefits companies experience from Work From Home (WFH) is the significant reduction in operational a breakdown of how companies save: Savings on office rent, electricity, water supply, internet, pantry, housekeeping, office hygiene maintenance costs, travel reimbursements, stationery, printing, office supplies and courier.• Access to a Larger Talent Pool: WFH allows companies to recruit talent from any location, expanding beyond metro cities and office-based can hire from any location without bearing relocation or travel costs.• Increased Availability & Flexibility: WFH eliminates commuting, giving employees more control over their schedules and increasing their often start early or work late, as commute time is eliminated. Greater responsiveness to urgent tasks or client calls. Flexible hours help balance personal and professional responsibilities. Higher output during peak productivity times (as chosen by employee).• Lower Absenteeism & Attrition: The flexibility of WFH leads to better work-life balance, resulting in fewer leaves and higher employee sick leaves and casual absences. Employees manage personal needs without taking full days off. Better job satisfaction due to autonomy and comfort. Increased loyalty, reducing resignation and turnover rates.• Business Continuity: WFH ensures uninterrupted operations, even in challenging carries on during lockdowns, strikes, floods, or natural disasters. No dependency on physical office or location-specific risks. Better disaster preparedness through digital infrastructure. Faster recovery time after disruptions.• Technology-Driven Culture: WFH accelerates digital transformation and fosters a tech-enabled work use of tools like Zoom, Teams, Slack, and cloud platforms. Improved digital collaboration across locations and teams. Paperless workflows and real-time document sharing. Boost in tech adoption even among non-technical employees. Data-driven decisions through dashboards and advantages make WFH a cost-effective and scalable model for modern companies. However, behind every remote workstation is a household that's under increasing & Families Under Pressure: While the company saves money and gains efficiency, employees—especially those with families—are experiencing emotional, physical, and financial challenges:1. Work-Life ImbalanceThe boundaries between work and personal life have eroded. Employees often work late into the evening or on weekends, missing meals and family moments.2. Family StrugglesSpouses and children often feel neglected. The emotional availability of a parent or partner disappears behind screens and meetings.3. Infrastructure LimitationsNot all homes have proper workspaces. Shared rooms, poor internet, and constant background noise reduce productivity and increase frustration.4. Mental & Emotional BurnoutRemote work can be isolating. Without social interaction or workplace engagement, employees report rising stress, loneliness, and fatigue.5. Double ResponsibilityEmployees, especially women, face the double burden of office work and housework, leading to exhaustion and conflicts.6. Lack of VisibilityRemote workers often feel 'invisible.' Despite working hard, their efforts go unnoticed, leading to demotivation and missed opportunities.7. Career & Skill GapsFewer informal learning opportunities, mentorships, or office exposure slows down professional development, especially for new or junior Pays? In the office, companies provide tea, power, seating, and support staff—but during WFH, these costs shift silently to employees and their families.• Spouses become unrecognized office assistants: In many homes, the employee's wife prepares tea two or three times daily, just like an office pantry—without any appreciation or compensation.• Home expenses rise: Electricity bills increase due to laptops, fans, ACs, and Wi-Fi running all day. Water usage, gas for cooking, and general wear-and-tear all go up.• Mental strain on the family: The emotional and physical labour of supporting WFH routines often falls on the spouse—unpaid and unnoticed.'At the office, tea was free. At home, my wife prepares it three times a day. I never realized—she's paying the real cost of my WFH.' – A mid-level employee, honestly ExampleImagine a mid-level professional living in a two-bedroom apartment with his spouse and two young children. Both parents are working remotely, and the children attend online classes. The home becomes a battlefield—with competing video calls, poor connectivity, and no private space. The wife prepares tea, cooks lunch, manages the kids, and juggles her own office load. On paper, productivity is high—but emotionally, the family is stretched to its maintain company efficiency while protecting employee wellbeing , many organizations are adopting a Hybrid Work Model —blending remote and in-office work.• Define core working hours to prevent overwork.• Offer mental health support, virtual wellness sessions, and counselling access.• Provide home office reimbursements for chairs, internet, or lighting.• Encourage managers to lead with empathy and regularly check in with team members.• Create fair recognition systems for remote staff.• Acknowledge and reduce the domestic burden of employees through support has been a cost-saving boon for companies, but its true cost is being paid inside employees' homes—by the workers themselves, and often by their spouses and build a sustainable and human-centric future, organizations must balance profits with compassion. After all, long-term success depends not just on cutting costs, but on supporting the very people who make work possible—at the office or at home.
