Working from Home: Gains and Losses

几年前，大多数人还很难想象，不去办公室也能完成一天的工作。

Jǐ (third tone, dipping) nián (second tone, rising) qián, (second tone, rising) dàduōshù (fourth tone, falling) rén (second tone, rising) hái (second tone, rising) hěn (third tone, dipping) nán (second tone, rising) xiǎngxiàng, (third tone, dipping) bú (second tone, rising) qù (fourth tone, falling) bàngōngshì (fourth tone, falling) yě (third tone, dipping) néng (second tone, rising) wánchéng (second tone, rising) yì (fourth tone, falling) tiān (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) gōngzuò. (first tone, high and level)

A few years ago most people could hardly imagine getting a day’s work done without going to the office.

如今，在家办公已经成为许多公司很普遍的一种安排：有的员工每周只需要去公司两三天，有的甚至一直在家工作。

Rújīn, (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) bàngōng (fourth tone, falling) yǐjīng (third tone, dipping) chéngwéi (second tone, rising) xǔduō (third tone, dipping) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) hěn (third tone, dipping) pǔbiàn (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) yì (fourth tone, falling) zhǒng (third tone, dipping) ānpái: (first tone, high and level) yǒude (third tone, dipping) yuángōng (second tone, rising) měi (third tone, dipping) zhōu (first tone, high and level) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) xūyào (first tone, high and level) qù (fourth tone, falling) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) liǎng (third tone, dipping) sān (first tone, high and level) tiān, (first tone, high and level) yǒude (third tone, dipping) shènzhì (fourth tone, falling) yìzhí (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) gōngzuò. (first tone, high and level)

Today working from home has become a common arrangement at many companies: some employees need to go in only two or three days a week, and some work from home all the time.

这一变化给人们的工作方式带来了哪些影响？不同的人给出了完全不同的答案。

Zhè (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) biànhuà (fourth tone, falling) gěi (third tone, dipping) rénmen (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) fāngshì (first tone, high and level) dàilái (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) nǎxiē (third tone, dipping) yǐngxiǎng? (third tone, dipping) Bùtóng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) gěichū (third tone, dipping) le (neutral tone) wánquán (second tone, rising) bùtóng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) dá (second tone, rising) àn. (fourth tone, falling)

What effects has this change had on the way people work? Different people give completely different answers.

支持者首先看到的是时间上的节省。

Zhīchízhě (first tone, high and level) shǒuxiān (third tone, dipping) kàn (fourth tone, falling) dào (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shì (fourth tone, falling) shíjiān (second tone, rising) shang (neutral tone) de (neutral tone) jiéshěng. (second tone, rising)

What supporters see first is the time saved.

在大城市，上下班路上花两个小时是很平常的事，而在家办公意味着这些时间可以用来休息、锻炼或者陪家人。

Zài (fourth tone, falling) dà (fourth tone, falling) chéngshì, (second tone, rising) shàngxiàbān (fourth tone, falling) lù (fourth tone, falling) shang (neutral tone) huā (first tone, high and level) liǎng (third tone, dipping) ge (neutral tone) xiǎoshí (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) píngcháng (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) shì, (fourth tone, falling) ér (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) bàngōng (fourth tone, falling) yìwèizhe (fourth tone, falling) zhèxiē (fourth tone, falling) shíjiān (second tone, rising) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) yòng (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) xiūxi, (first tone, high and level) duànliàn (fourth tone, falling) huòzhě (fourth tone, falling) péi (second tone, rising) jiārén. (first tone, high and level)

In a big city, spending two hours a day getting to and from work is quite normal, and working from home means that time can go to resting, exercising or being with family.

一位做软件开发的工程师告诉记者，自从不用每天挤地铁，他早上能多睡一个小时，工作时的精力反而更充足了。

Yí (second tone, rising) wèi (fourth tone, falling) zuò (fourth tone, falling) ruǎnjiàn (third tone, dipping) kāifā (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) gōngchéngshī (first tone, high and level) gàosu (fourth tone, falling) jìzhě, (fourth tone, falling) zìcóng (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) měi (third tone, dipping) tiān (first tone, high and level) jǐ (third tone, dipping) dìtiě, (fourth tone, falling) tā (first tone, high and level) zǎoshang (third tone, dipping) néng (second tone, rising) duō (first tone, high and level) shuì (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) xiǎoshí, (third tone, dipping) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) shí (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) jīnglì (first tone, high and level) fǎn (third tone, dipping) ér (second tone, rising) gèng (fourth tone, falling) chōngzú (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)

A software engineer told our reporter that since he stopped squeezing onto the metro every day, he sleeps an hour longer in the morning and actually has more energy at work.

此外，安静的环境对那些需要高度集中注意力的工作也很有利，比如写报告、做设计等。

Cǐwài, (third tone, dipping) ānjìng (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) huánjìng (second tone, rising) duì (fourth tone, falling) nàxiē (fourth tone, falling) xūyào (first tone, high and level) gāodù (first tone, high and level) jízhōng (second tone, rising) zhùyìlì (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) yě (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) yǒulì, (third tone, dipping) bǐrú (third tone, dipping) xiě (third tone, dipping) bàogào, (fourth tone, falling) zuò (fourth tone, falling) shèjì (fourth tone, falling) děng. (third tone, dipping)

A quiet setting also suits work that needs close concentration, such as writing reports or doing design.

对企业来说，减少办公室的面积，也能节约不少开支。

Duì (fourth tone, falling) qǐyè (third tone, dipping) lái (second tone, rising) shuō, (first tone, high and level) jiǎnshǎo (third tone, dipping) bàngōngshì (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) miànji, (fourth tone, falling) yě (third tone, dipping) néng (second tone, rising) jiéyuē (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) shǎo (third tone, dipping) kāizhī. (first tone, high and level)

For companies, smaller offices also save a good deal of money.

有的公司还发现，不再要求员工每天到办公室以后，就可以招聘住在其他城市的人才，选择的范围大了很多。

Yǒude (third tone, dipping) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) hái (second tone, rising) fāxiàn, (first tone, high and level) bú (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) yāoqiú (first tone, high and level) yuángōng (second tone, rising) měi (third tone, dipping) tiān (first tone, high and level) dào (fourth tone, falling) bàngōngshì (fourth tone, falling) yǐhòu, (third tone, dipping) jiù (fourth tone, falling) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) zhāopìn (first tone, high and level) zhù (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) qítā (second tone, rising) chéngshì (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) réncái, (second tone, rising) xuǎnzé (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) fànwéi (fourth tone, falling) dà (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) duō. (first tone, high and level)

Some companies have also found that once staff no longer have to come in every day, they can hire talented people who live in other cities, which widens the choice a great deal.

然而，批评者指出，在家办公的问题同样明显。

Rán (second tone, rising) ér, (second tone, rising) pīpíngzhě (first tone, high and level) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) chū, (first tone, high and level) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) bàngōng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) tóngyàng (second tone, rising) míngxiǎn. (second tone, rising)

Critics, however, point out that the problems of working from home are just as obvious.

第一个问题是工作和生活的界限变得模糊。

Dì (fourth tone, falling) yī (first tone, high and level) ge (neutral tone) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) hé (second tone, rising) shēnghuó (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) jièxiàn (fourth tone, falling) biànde (fourth tone, falling) móhu. (second tone, rising)

The first problem is that the line between work and life becomes blurred.

工作用的桌子就在卧室旁边，手机随时可能响起，不少人发现自己下班以后仍然在回消息，一天下来比在办公室还累。

Gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) yòng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) zhuōzi (first tone, high and level) jiù (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) wòshì (fourth tone, falling) pángbiān, (second tone, rising) shǒujī (third tone, dipping) suíshí (second tone, rising) kěnéng (third tone, dipping) xiǎngqǐ, (third tone, dipping) bù (fourth tone, falling) shǎo (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) fāxiàn (first tone, high and level) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) xiàbān (fourth tone, falling) yǐhòu (third tone, dipping) réngrán (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) huí (second tone, rising) xiāoxi, (first tone, high and level) yì (fourth tone, falling) tiān (first tone, high and level) xiàlái (fourth tone, falling) bǐ (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) bàngōngshì (fourth tone, falling) hái (second tone, rising) lèi. (fourth tone, falling)

The work desk is right next to the bedroom and the phone can ring at any moment; many people find they are still answering messages after hours, and end the day more tired than in the office.

第二个问题是交流的减少。

Dì (fourth tone, falling) èr (fourth tone, falling) ge (neutral tone) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) jiāoliú (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) jiǎnshǎo. (third tone, dipping)

The second problem is less communication.

在办公室里，同事之间一句随便说的话、一次偶然的讨论，常常能带来新的想法；而在网上开会，大家往往只谈事先安排好的内容，很少有这种意外的收获。

Zài (fourth tone, falling) bàngōngshì (fourth tone, falling) li, (neutral tone) tóngshì (second tone, rising) zhījiān (first tone, high and level) yí (second tone, rising) jù (fourth tone, falling) suíbiàn (second tone, rising) shuō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) huà, (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) cì (fourth tone, falling) ǒurán (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) tǎolùn, (third tone, dipping) chángcháng (second tone, rising) néng (second tone, rising) dàilái (fourth tone, falling) xīn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) xiǎngfǎ; (third tone, dipping) ér (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) wǎngshang (third tone, dipping) kāi (first tone, high and level) huì, (fourth tone, falling) dàjiā (fourth tone, falling) wǎngwǎng (third tone, dipping) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) tán (second tone, rising) shìxiān (fourth tone, falling) ānpái (first tone, high and level) hǎo (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) nèiróng, (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) shǎo (third tone, dipping) yǒu (third tone, dipping) zhè (fourth tone, falling) zhǒng (third tone, dipping) yìwài (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shōuhuò. (first tone, high and level)

In an office, a passing remark between colleagues or a chance discussion often sparks new ideas; in online meetings people tend to stick to the agenda, and such unexpected gains are rare.

对刚参加工作的年轻人来说，这一点影响更大。

Duì (fourth tone, falling) gāng (first tone, high and level) cānjiā (first tone, high and level) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) niánqīngrén (second tone, rising) lái (second tone, rising) shuō, (first tone, high and level) zhè (fourth tone, falling) yìdiǎn (fourth tone, falling) yǐngxiǎng (third tone, dipping) gèng (fourth tone, falling) dà. (fourth tone, falling)

For young people who have just started work, this matters even more.

他们本来可以通过观察有经验的同事如何处理问题来学习，现在却只能一个人慢慢摸索。

Tāmen (first tone, high and level) běnlái (third tone, dipping) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) tōngguò (first tone, high and level) guānchá (first tone, high and level) yǒu (third tone, dipping) jīngyàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) tóngshì (second tone, rising) rúhé (second tone, rising) chǔlǐ (third tone, dipping) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) xuéxí, (second tone, rising) xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) què (fourth tone, falling) zhǐnéng (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) mànmàn (fourth tone, falling) mōsuo. (first tone, high and level)

They could have learned by watching how experienced colleagues handle problems; now they have to feel their way forward slowly on their own.

一位刚毕业的大学生说，她工作了半年，见过面的同事不超过五个，遇到问题时常常不知道应该问谁。

Yí (second tone, rising) wèi (fourth tone, falling) gāng (first tone, high and level) bìyè (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) dàxuéshēng (fourth tone, falling) shuō, (first tone, high and level) tā (first tone, high and level) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) le (neutral tone) bàn (fourth tone, falling) nián, (second tone, rising) jiànguo (fourth tone, falling) miàn (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) tóngshì (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) chāoguò (first tone, high and level) wǔ (third tone, dipping) ge, (neutral tone) yùdào (fourth tone, falling) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) shí (second tone, rising) chángcháng (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) zhīdào (first tone, high and level) yīnggāi (first tone, high and level) wèn (fourth tone, falling) shuí. (second tone, rising)

A recent graduate said that in six months of work she had met no more than five colleagues in person, and when a problem came up she often did not know whom to ask.

第三个问题与管理有关。

Dì (fourth tone, falling) sān (first tone, high and level) ge (neutral tone) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) yǔ (third tone, dipping) guǎnlǐ (third tone, dipping) yǒuguān. (third tone, dipping)

The third problem has to do with management.

看不见员工，一些管理者便感到不安，于是要求员工随时在网上，或者频繁地汇报工作情况，结果反而增加了双方的压力。

Kàn (fourth tone, falling) bu (neutral tone) jiàn (fourth tone, falling) yuángōng, (second tone, rising) yìxiē (fourth tone, falling) guǎnlǐzhě (third tone, dipping) biàn (fourth tone, falling) gǎn (third tone, dipping) dào (fourth tone, falling) bù (fourth tone, falling) ān, (first tone, high and level) yúshì (second tone, rising) yāoqiú (first tone, high and level) yuángōng (second tone, rising) suíshí (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) wǎngshang, (third tone, dipping) huòzhě (fourth tone, falling) pínfán (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) huìbào (fourth tone, falling) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) qíngkuàng, (second tone, rising) jiéguǒ (second tone, rising) fǎn (third tone, dipping) ér (second tone, rising) zēngjiā (first tone, high and level) le (neutral tone) shuāngfāng (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) yālì. (first tone, high and level)

Unable to see their staff, some managers grow uneasy and require them to be online at all times or to report on their work again and again, which only adds pressure on both sides.

面对这些争论，越来越多的公司开始寻找一种更灵活的办法。

Miànduì (fourth tone, falling) zhèxiē (fourth tone, falling) zhēnglùn, (first tone, high and level) yuè (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) yuè (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) kāishǐ (first tone, high and level) xúnzhǎo (second tone, rising) yì (fourth tone, falling) zhǒng (third tone, dipping) gèng (fourth tone, falling) línghuó (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) bànfǎ. (fourth tone, falling)

Faced with this debate, more and more companies are looking for a more flexible approach.

比如，规定每周固定的两天大家都到办公室，用来开会、讨论和培训新人；其余时间则由员工自己决定在哪里工作。

Bǐrú, (third tone, dipping) guīdìng (first tone, high and level) měi (third tone, dipping) zhōu (first tone, high and level) gùdìng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) liǎng (third tone, dipping) tiān (first tone, high and level) dàjiā (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) dào (fourth tone, falling) bàngōngshì, (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) kāi (first tone, high and level) huì, (fourth tone, falling) tǎolùn (third tone, dipping) hé (second tone, rising) péixùn (second tone, rising) xīnrén; (first tone, high and level) qíyú (second tone, rising) shíjiān (second tone, rising) zé (second tone, rising) yóu (second tone, rising) yuángōng (second tone, rising) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) juédìng (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) nǎli (third tone, dipping) gōngzuò. (first tone, high and level)

For example, everyone comes to the office on two fixed days a week for meetings, discussion and training new staff, and for the rest of the time employees decide for themselves where to work.

同时，公司也明确规定，下班以后除非有紧急情况，否则不应该要求员工回消息。

Tóngshí, (second tone, rising) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) yě (third tone, dipping) míngquè (second tone, rising) guīdìng, (first tone, high and level) xiàbān (fourth tone, falling) yǐhòu (third tone, dipping) chúfēi (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping) jǐnjí (third tone, dipping) qíngkuàng, (second tone, rising) fǒuzé (third tone, dipping) bù (fourth tone, falling) yīnggāi (first tone, high and level) yāoqiú (first tone, high and level) yuángōng (second tone, rising) huí (second tone, rising) xiāoxi. (first tone, high and level)

At the same time, the companies state plainly that, except in an emergency, employees should not be asked to answer messages after hours.

有研究者认为，在家办公本身并没有好坏之分，关键是管理方式是否跟着改变。

Yǒu (third tone, dipping) yánjiūzhě (second tone, rising) rènwéi, (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) bàngōng (fourth tone, falling) běnshēn (third tone, dipping) bìng (fourth tone, falling) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) hǎo (third tone, dipping) huài (fourth tone, falling) zhī (first tone, high and level) fēn, (first tone, high and level) guānjiàn (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) guǎnlǐ (third tone, dipping) fāngshì (first tone, high and level) shìfǒu (fourth tone, falling) gēnzhe (first tone, high and level) gǎibiàn. (third tone, dipping)

One researcher believes that working from home is neither good nor bad in itself; the key is whether management changes with it.

如果一家公司仍然用“有没有坐在座位上”来判断员工是否努力，那么无论在哪里办公，员工都很难真正发挥出自己的能力。

Rúguǒ (second tone, rising) yì (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) réngrán (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) “yǒu (third tone, dipping) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) zuò (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) zuòwèi (fourth tone, falling) shang” (neutral tone) lái (second tone, rising) pànduàn (fourth tone, falling) yuángōng (second tone, rising) shìfǒu (fourth tone, falling) nǔlì, (third tone, dipping) nàme (fourth tone, falling) wúlùn (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) nǎli (third tone, dipping) bàngōng, (fourth tone, falling) yuángōng (second tone, rising) dōu (first tone, high and level) hěn (third tone, dipping) nán (second tone, rising) zhēnzhèng (first tone, high and level) fāhuī (first tone, high and level) chū (first tone, high and level) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) nénglì. (second tone, rising)

If a company still judges whether employees are working hard by “whether they are sitting at their desks”, then wherever they work, it will be hard for them to show what they can really do.

只有把注意力放在工作的结果上，给予员工足够的信任，灵活的工作方式才能带来真正的好处。

Zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping) bǎ (third tone, dipping) zhùyìlì (fourth tone, falling) fàng (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) jiéguǒ (second tone, rising) shang, (neutral tone) jǐyǔ (third tone, dipping) yuángōng (second tone, rising) zúgòu (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) xìnrèn, (fourth tone, falling) línghuó (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) fāngshì (first tone, high and level) cái (second tone, rising) néng (second tone, rising) dàilái (fourth tone, falling) zhēnzhèng (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) hǎochu. (third tone, dipping)

Only by focusing on results and giving employees enough trust can flexible working bring real benefits.