Australia has analyzed teleworking since before pandemic. His conclusions disassemble the reasons for the return to the office

Although teleworking is no longer the preferred option by companies, or at least not their full -time variant, remote work continues to maintain much higher values that those who registered before pandemic. That shows that, in a way, teleworking does arrive to stay in Very specific contexts. Australia has been observing the real impact of teleworking for four years and consolidated data contradict old prejudices. “Working from home makes us happier,” The authors assure of a study by the University of Southern Australia, ciming a new more flexible and productive labor model. Time flexibility: the new office fruit. The Australian study is especially revealing because it began before the pandemic and the rise of teleworking and has been extended for four years, which leaves a much more defined photo of how remote work has impacted on the way of working and its consequences. According to the study, the possibility of choosing from where to work has allowed to improve both the mental and physical health of workers, although there is still a certain friction from corporate culture. According to A report of the International Labor Organization (OTI), the flexibility provided by teleworking is already equal to The emotional salary with which companies try to capture and retain the best employees, replacing other benefits. Most satisfied employees with their work. The data collected by the study reveal that before the pandemic, the Australian worker used about 4.5 hours per week only in displacements to the office. That time optimization It makes those who work from home enjoy “ten extra days of free time a year against those who go to the office”, dedicating 33% of that time to leisure, which implies “more opportunities to be physically active and less sedentary.” A factor that also highlighted the Academic Study which was carried out in Spain from the Lacaixa Foundation. According to the authors, these data “usually go hand in hand with worse mental health and with lower scores in the assessment of our own health.” Thanks to teleworking, employees have gained “hours of rest to sleep and, for example, breakfast more peacefully”, which helps reduce levels of template stress. In turn, this recovered time also has a reflection in healthier habits, such as home preparation or the increase in the consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy. The result has been a more varied and healthy diet, with less dependence on ultraprocessed foods that require less preparation time. Positive whenever it is by choice. If something has shown us the experience of “forced” teleworking during the confinements of 2020 is that the teleworking It is not for everyone. Since this study allows to contrast the situation of employees before and after the massive arrival of teleworking, it also reveals how it affects that change of work model in workers The researchers found that the well -being and mental health They improved especially when teleworking was voluntarily chosen, while “when employees work from home for obligation, mental health and well -being tend to get worse.” Productivity in evidence. One of the main arguments of companies for the return to the office has been the alleged fall in productivity that was associated with teleworking. In this sense, researchers blame the problem more to an inability to assign tasks and New model management not in a direct casuistry of teleworking. “In many cases, managers who claim that teleworking reduces productivity responds more to a lack of management than a real performance problem,” says researchers in their conclusions. The conclusion after four years of monitoring is unequivocal: work performance and productivity seem to stay stable or, in most cases, improve when working from home. These results coincide With other research that They disconnect the decrease in productivity of the company with the teleworking. The distance does affect the cohesion of the equipment. Great corporations like Amazon wielded The argument of the cohesion of the equipment To impose The return to the office. In that sense, the study prepared by Australian researchers recognizes that “the connection with the classmates is difficult to reproduce at a distance,” admit those responsible for the study, and alert about the risk of loss of cohesion in the work teams. But, as has been demonstrated with some strategies back to the office, the problem can be mitigated by facilitating efficient communication channels. A Recent study Posted in the magazine Naturerevealed that this Team cohesion problem It currently persists with the hybrid day model, provided that consistent communication patterns are not established. In Xataka | A Barcelona company wanted to try the four -day week. He ended up firebaging an employee for having two jobs Image | Unspash (Rodeo Project Management Software)

Thus has changed the way of working after the pandemic

Five years have passed since the Covid-19 pandemic marked a before and after in the way we work, forcing companies and employees to quickly adapt to New work models. Five years later, studies like that of the Gallup consultant and WFH Research have documented how these transformations have impacted the work environment: from the Award and drop of teleworking to the challenges related to the Mental health and commitment of employees. Evolution of remote work to hybrid. According to Gallup data, in 2019 60% of employees with Ability to telework They went to the offices five days per week. 32% already made it alternating face -to -face and remote work days. A model that we now know as hybrid days. Before everything changed, only 8% worked in a way completely remote. At present, data on the working day point to greater more diversity. According to Gallup, 55% of the 400,000 employees consulted work in a hybrid modality, 26% teleworking full -time and 19% remain exclusively face -to -face without options to telework at all. WFH Research data is more conservative in their estimates, assigning 25.7% to hybrid models, 12.9% to full -time teleworking, and a crushing 61.4% for face -to -face work. Stagnant since 2023. According to data collected by WFH Research, the number of working days that have been held from home have been stable since the beginning of 2023, representing 27% of the total days worked. Instead of prioritizing the increase of these remote work days, both studies confirm that employees give priority to maintain time flexibility. At present, an average of 2.3 days per week is worked remote, being the most common day to work from home. However, WFH Research data revealed that on, many occasions, that remote work occurred to compensate that on Friday it had later entered or left before the time, adding that flexibility component. Rock makes love. Gallup data revealed that the levels of employee commitment They have suffered a notable fall since the beginning of the pandemic, reaching a historical minimum in 2024 that places the employee commitment At 2014 levels. According to this index, 31% of employees felt committed to the values ​​and objectives of their company, while 17% showed actively disconnectedwhich implies being in a Silent resignation situation. In 2019, 55% of employees consulted by Gallup knew exactly what was expected of them, while, in 2024, it is a percentage barely reached 44%. In the same proportion, the alignment of the values ​​and the culture of the company registered between the employees has fallen before the pandemic, which stood at 38%, while in the updated it barely records 30%, indicating the detachment of the employees and the Lack of template cohesion. It is more complicated to retain talent. One of the direct consequences of this detachment is the difficulty of companies To retain talent. According to Gallup, the percentage of employees who feel they are thriving in their company went from 60% in 2019 to 50% in 2024, accompanied by record levels of negative emotions such as the Stress and exhaustion. This impact has been more pronounced Among young workerswho tend to experience higher levels of burnout and pessimistic evaluations about Your quality of lifeplacing them in a situation of high probability of employment change. In 2024, 18% of employees claimed to be fully satisfied with their current job, while 51% were thinking of changing jobs or were in Active search for a new job. Exceeding the levels that were recorded at the end of 2019. Managers have made a difference. The data collected in five years of surveys by the Gallup consultancy have revealed the importance of communication management and Leadership of intermediate positions and managers. Those companies with effective leadership have managed to maintain the company’s work culture, evolving with the changes that have occurred in these years. On the other hand, those companies with managers who have not known how to adapt To the new tools and a changing environment, they have suffered to retain your templates for the deterioration of its employees’ commitment. In Xataka | “They are much more daring.” Image | Unspash (Jason Goodman)

Is Human Metapneumovirus the Next Pandemic Virus?

In recent weeks, China has recorded a significant increase in cases of respiratory infections caused by human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Although health authorities have ruled out that the situation represents a global health risk like Covid-19, The increase in respiratory diseases has set off alarms, especially in the winter months. According to the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Rates of flu-like illnesses have grown in this winter of 2024, generating concern among the population and authorities. However, experts say that This is not a pandemic scenario. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said: Diseases appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale than the previous year. In addition, authorities have denied rumors about collapsed hospitals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining basic hygiene measures. What is human metapneumovirus (HMPV)? HMPV belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and was first identified in 2001 in the Netherlands. However, serological studies reveal that this virus has already been circulating among humans since 1950, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States. It is an agent that causes acute respiratory infections (ARI), with a seasonal pattern that intensifies in the cold months. “It is a virus that, in recent years, has gained greater relevance due to 2 factors: the increase in cases and the improvement of diagnostic techniques, such as PCR, which allow infections and co-infections to be identified more quickly,” explained the infectious disease doctor Roberto Debbag in statements to Infobae. The H.M.P.V. It is transmitted mainly through respiratory secretions when coughing or sneezing, as well as by contact with contaminated surfaces. like toys or doorknobs. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), Its symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever and sore throat. Although they generally resemble those of a common cold, In severe cases it can cause bronchitis, pneumonia and severe respiratory distress. For most people, HMPV does not pose a serious danger. Nevertheless, Certain groups are more vulnerable, such as children under 5 years of age, the elderly, and immunocompromised people. In these cases, the infection can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia. In India, the use of face masks was returned to prevent further infections of metapneumovirus. (Photo: EFE/EPA/JAGADEESH NV) “Metapneumovirus is well known and is the second cause of respiratory diseases in winter in Argentina,” said infectious disease specialist Ricardo Teijeiro. For his part, Debbag added: “In children under one year old, the infection can be more serious. In adults, it can cause everything from bronchitis to pneumonia, mainly affecting the lower respiratory tract.” The NIH reports that in older adults residing in care homes, morbidity and mortality associated with HMPV can reach 10%. This underscores the importance of protecting the most susceptible populations through preventive measures. The outbreak in China: a worrying situation? Despite the increase in cases in China, Experts insist it should not be compared to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to infectologist Teijeiro, it is not possible for a virus known as HMPV to cause a pandemic. “They are local epidemic outbreaks that usually appear during the respiratory virus season. These outbreaks start in Asia, move to Europe and the US, and then reach the southern hemisphere in winter,” Debbag explained. In addition, specialists highlight that the current outbreak not only involves HMPV, but also other viruses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial, which are known as coinfections. Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, said the most important thing right now is to educate people about the virus to reduce its transmission. The preventive measures recommended to avoid the spread of HMPV are similar to those of other respiratory viruses. The ALA and other health organizations advise: 1) Stay home if symptoms of respiratory illness occur.2) Maintain adequate hand hygiene, washing them frequently with soap and water.3) Wear masks in public spaces if you are sick.4) Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these practices proved effective in reducing the transmission of various respiratory diseases. “I’m not suggesting we go back to strict Covid restrictions, but staying home and practicing good hygiene remains crucial,” Griffin said. Teijeiro agreed, highlighting that these measures are especially necessary during outbreaks, not indiscriminately. HMPV does not represent a global threat, but its ability to severely affect vulnerable groups deserves attention. The key to minimizing its impact lies in health education and prevention. Chinese authorities have emphasized the importance of maintaining basic hygiene measures and rejecting misinformation, a strategy that could be replicated in other countries to prevent the spread of alarmist rumors. Keep reading: * CDC gives new recommendations for Covid-19 and flu vaccines* The fight in the WHO between rich and poor countries in order for everyone to have access to vaccines* Why Covid continues to wreak serious havoc on some people

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