Coronavirus Outbreak

Make working from home work

While employers can help staff cope with sudden changes in work arrangements by being clear about responsibilities, workers should be proactive in their jobs as well

Working from home may be daunting at first, but it can be sustainable in the long run, say experts.
Working from home may be daunting at first, but it can be sustainable in the long run, say experts. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
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You have seen this scenario play out repeatedly across industries in the past week. One day you are ensconced in your cubicle at work and, the next, you are logging in from a make-do home office at your dining-room table.

Your mind wavers: How do I manage this new arrangement given the distractions at home? What if my boss calls when I am tending to my screaming children? Do I get a tea break?

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 17, 2020, with the headline Make working from home work. Subscribe