This situation generated by the Virus crown in so many countries, is highlighting this possibility of "work from home". The problem lies in its implementation in small and medium-sized companies, and in that not all jobs are susceptible to this modality. In any case, in the face of this unfortunate global debacle, working from home can somewhat alleviate the economic and social collapse. We have to learn from our mistakes! ...

yes we are doing it in Iran!, due to keep health of our students and colleagues, although for E-learning we have not enough facilities!

Yes, this is the best solution to get away from the big and serious problems caused by infection with this virus

Yes, I think it will be a very good choice.

It is a solution in some situations such as education via Internet, computer programming, call center type of work, and any instance where telecommuting will work with the use of phones and computers. It is not practical for a variety of jobs (where economically poor typically work) such as the service industry, food service, delivery industry, grocery stores (you still need people to deliver the package to homes even for online orders), and so on

Dear Kheepe Lawrence Moremi ,

First of all, I would like to thank you for such an interesting opportunity to share our perspectives and viewpoints during this difficult time affecting our planet.

From Italy: well, the Coronavirus is teaching that the so-called "normality" can be in trouble all the time, every second, minute and moment in our life: so, I guess such a delicate time is becoming a strong and tough challenge to all of us.

One of its effects consist of working "as-before": I mean working as before to be affected by the current pandemic status.

In this regard, I can affirm that - in my modest opinion - working by applying the "smart-working time" is very useful and helpful, but the well-known work environment is different, because working from home is something totally different in comparison with the great possibility of working at the University or Company.

The "space" and the human relationships have been affected and it is impossible to "hide" all that.

Smart-working is a great solution, with-no doubt, of course, BUT, for instance, it is impossible to download no-open access papers and/or other research data (just to mention a big (temporary) "stop").

As far as the psychological aspect: well, it is impossible to declare that, as previously mentioned, the human sphere hasn't been affected, because it has and even so very much. In fact, it is impossible to have external relationships out of here (home): distance, strong but necessary rules to be respected and followed and lots of other details.

Anyway this is a global emergency and if working means being active through smart-working mood, well, I totally agree.

I think that Resilience is our "duty" at this time.

Health is our Priority, so, great job!

My Best Wishes to You All...during this particular time.

Best regards,

Antonella

Thank you for your contribution Parisa Ziarati and great to hear the current approach in Iran, mostly in educational settings, as I understand your response. Does the "e-mode" extend to other spheres of life?

Thank you Afraa Ibrahim

Jasim Hassen

Mila Ilieva

As I understand it, your view Afraa Ibrahim

Thank you Saswatik Tripathy and Shakir Faris Tuleab for your time and contribution.

Thank you Francisco Martínez González for your time and contribution. We always forget the impact on SME's.

Thank you Srini Vasan and Sadanand Pandey

Srini Vasan your view is that some taks and jobs may not be prone to "remote working arrangements." Is that correct? Do you want to give examples?

Sadanand Pandey

Agreed. The formidable epidemic today will serve as a precedent for tomorrow's business. This is exactly what most of us have longed for. Now that there has been a greater emphasis on how social contact might instigate the propagation of a potentially fatal disease; the society seems to be more concerned with the most basic principles of primary prevention. Ergo. one may never opt to take a risk, that could have been otherwise repelled, had they been more cautious.

Thank you for your valued contribution and time Milad Shirvaliloo

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet's colleague talks about a concept he calls "The Lollapalooza Effect. Although he focused his attention on financial markets, I think the concept applies to everything in life. According to him, a Lollapalooza is present when many variables act in concert to produce a response of some sort. I think emissions, concerns about pollution and the environment and now, concerns about communicable diseases colliding with lifestyle diseases, is more than likely to induce a permanent shift. Like with many things before, this trend started on "the fringes" and this pandemic, will take it to the mainstream.

Srini Vasan Antonella Dimotta Afraa Ibrahim

Sadanand Pandey

Milad Shirvaliloo

What do you think?

Kheepe Lawrence Moremi, On the other hand, can it increase the population??

I think it is not a solution but it may be one of the preventive measures

Thank you for your contribution as always Yousif Yaqoob Shahtha

It does seem like there are two views. One view says that this may be a temporary measure and another says that this could mark a permanent shift.

So, you subscribe to the first (1) view?

Interesting twist and angle Saswatik Tripathy

How would COVID-19 lead to an increase in population size?

The wake of Coronavirus have stressed the importance of distance learning and work from home professions.

Thank you for your valued contribution and time Chinaza Godswill Awuchi

You are sharing an interesting perspective that needs to be explored in greater detail.

Kheepe Lawrence Moremi

Respected sir,

In my view and opinion, I am telling this, there is no connection with any recent research.

This is the nature of a live or a cell or DNA to create a replica of it before it dies. It is sure that due to this outbreak there will be a huge life loss around us. All this will be observed by living human beings and will be stored in their cell database. All the humans may not be connected with each other but their DNAs are connected with a delicate link. When this data will be transferred among themselves, the cells will be very worried about its future existence. So the cells will trigger the humans to give birth as much as possible for its existence in this world. And the work from home is the petrol on the fire. People will get more time to intimate with each other. Jokes apart, if there is high mortality in any creature it gives birth to more babies. If we see the case of dogs and cow there is a high probability of death among the dogs as all are not domesticated so they give more numbers of baby, but the cows who are domesticated from long back and the rate of mortality is low among them so they evolve them in such a manner to have only one calf.

For more information you can see this - Chapter The Impact of Population Growth on the Epidemiology and Evol...

Thank you for your contribution and interesting perspective

Only limited number of jobs can be done at home, and it seems it will be boring and dull, with weak performance.

Thank you for your valued contributions and time Gamal El Ghazali Barbara Sawicka

Your viewpoint makes a lot of sense. As an example, it may be near impossible for miners, restaurant and hotel operators to operate from home. Apart from impracticality, there will always be laws that prohibit such.

Off course "Work From Home" is the current solution, atleast till the time the effects of pandemic reduces to a tolerance limit. I have a few points here -

1. Work from home is not new. There are several cases including being sick, pregnancy etc where work from home is implemented.

2. Some homemakers do work from home contributing in smaller jobs.

3.Question: If everybody works from home how will the Supply Chain Sustain?

4. Question: Looks like mother earth is seeking some rest. Can't we do the same for a while?

Thank you

Biswajit

Thank you for your valued time and contribution Biswajit Debnath

At the moment, it is one of the best options for workers in highly infected countries

Thank you for your contribution Chinaza Godswill Awuchi

Definitely, an opportunity for many companies and industries to shift their models.

we not have another way to study in these serious circumstances .

It is highly recommended for now

Thank you for your valued contributions Shaheed Kharbeet Kaukab Abid Azhar Ahmed Abdullah Amanah Balqees Al-Musawi

Do you think this will represent a significant and permanent shift or a big but temporary shift, insignificant, permanent shift or insignificant but temporary shift?

NB: Insignificant in this case refers to below 10% and Significant refers to any value above 10%.

Not every work can be handled from home. Factories, transportation schools and such.

Obianuju P. Umeji

Thank you for your contribution Obianuju P. Umeji

I agree that some tasks cannot be performed at home. Having said that though, do you not think that with the drive towards "distributed manufacturing," mainly driven by "The 4th Industrial Revolution," it may be possible to start having small scale factories at home?

Yes, and I think there will be traditions for future work such as distance learning and the work of some employees in companies as well.

Kheepe Moremi, I agree with you absolutely. But other like transportation cannot be so handled and that's the reason the spread is rather fast when infected people travel to other continents.

The 4th Industrial Revolution is overdue except that the human-triggered climatic change may not be very friendly to it.

Obianuju P. Umeji

Thank you for your contributions Obianuju P. Umeji Majeed Rashid Zaidan

Highly appreciated.

Yes, at the moment it is the only alternative to keep viruses from spreading

Thank you for your contribution and response Dunya Mohamed Hameed

Yes, for the vast majority of jobs in our information based society this new solution is an absolute necessity in the current situation.

Most certainly; both parties have plus in the margin.

Thank you Lou Schmitt . Your participation and contribution is highly appreciated.

My pleasure.

In my institution, we are currently working online from our respective homes. Although no confirmed case of Covid-19 in Uganda

Thank you for sharing Chinaza Godswill Awuchi . It is a trend, I suspect pretty much everywhere. My kids are also learning online from home.

في الوقت الراهن هو السبيل الوحيد لمنع الاصابه بالمرض وانتشاره

Thank you Janusz Pudykiewicz Bushra Tawfeeq

working from home now is the best solution to overcome the acceleration of the spread of the corona virus, business and all activity regarding growth of economy is disrupted because of this epidemic, but our health must not be disturbed because healthy more important and number one...cheers and stay safe:))

Thank you for your contribution Gloria Angelita

We also continue the process in terms of education from home. Why not? But this requires a good infrastructure.

No doubt, infrastructure is a "make or break." Thank you for your contribution Ahmet Aykan

Dear Kheepe Moremi, you are welcome

You have touched a good subject.

Thank you Ahmet Aykan

Since we started the discussion, there has been an uptick on "work or study from home" Harvard Business Review" articles. See a sample below:-

yes

Thank you Alia Zamil

Time is really important in our life. If time goes it never comes again, if you wast your time. So we must work and learn during this time.

I think yes

For the time being, there is no option. We seem to be caught up in change and, from an archaeological point of view - this is exactly what we study; cultural change in time.

Lou

I think so...but in my country the odds are very low

Thank you Orunna Chidiebere Victor Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak

Orunna Chidiebere Victor why are the odds low in your country?

Yes

Thank you for your response Salah Mehdi Salih

Of many alternatives it seems that "'Work from Home'' is the best for the time-being. Although it is an interim measure, which may not sustain for a long time.

Obianuju P. Umeji

Thank you for your participation and contribution Obianuju P. Umeji

Has a researcher looked into the question if, and exacly what % of the population, has taken the "normal flu vaccine for the 2019/20 season" in the presently hard hit areas like Italy and Spain?

Lou

I do not know, Lou Schmitt . It would be interesting to know. Why are you specifically interested in that information, Lou Schmitt ?

Because I suspect that many people living in warm areas (year round) don't bother to take a seasonal flu shot; in turn, this would account for the high numbers of cov-19 cases in these areas. Food for thought?

Lou

Interesting hypothesis Lou Schmitt . I am not an expert in the area, as such, I have no idea. Would be interesting to hear what others say.

I fully agree.

LS

Still waiting to hear what "others" think about the hypothesis? I am sure this information is available on local levels as to how many normal flu shots were given in the Fall of 2019. Is there a difference between north and south Europe?

Lou

I am still waiting as well Lou Schmitt . Me and you in same sandbox or as they say these days, same WhatsAp Group.

Roger that.

Cheers,

Lou

Work from Home better than nothing

I thank you Salah Mehdi Salih

You have a added a reference point - nothing (0). In essence, anything that goes north of nothing (0) would be welcome under the circumstances, including "working from home?" Is that a fair summation?

Dear Kheepe Lawrence Moremi and All:

Great discussion! I would think we do not have other options other than working from home at this time. As social distancing reduces chances of catching COVID-19, staying at home and working from home would stop the spread of coronavirus.

Stay safe.

Thanks,

Nil Pandey

Thank you for your contribution Nil Pandey

This is third world war! But where are the soldiers? And where exactly is the battle front?

Obianuju P. Umeji

Are we still on the same topic Obianuju P. Umeji ?

Dear Kheepe Moremi ,

Sure we are on the same topic in which nations plan work places and urbanization and suddenly end up in individual operations, and mass death and stay at home.

Its same topic I am on.

Obianuju P Umeji

If one can work from home, go ahead and save transmitting the virus accidentally. I know some others who have to go out to service the rest of us, like the people who bring food to the stores and those who look after the sick in hospitals.

They are the heroes of today!

Thank you for your time and participation Obianuju P. Umeji

I do not see the linkage, but I respect where you are.

Thank you for your participation and contribution Michael Issigonis

Right it is becoming normally work at the home though. That was funny before but words "Stay home" awake everybody nowadays! "Stay home" and work hard dear colleagues!

Corona Virus is just reason for research!

Thank you for your contribution Ummatjon Gayrat Ugli Mustafayev

The shift has definitely occurred. The question is, will this be permanent?

Secondly, the question is who is going to win the battle for "virtual productivity" platforms, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype.

in such circumstances, the answer is definitely YES. in terms of quarantine and lockdowns, working from home is the best solution to assure and maintain the continuation of life. to me, even after the end of the throes of this pandemic, such policies and strategies will continue to flourish.

Thank you Amjed L. Jabbar

See below, some HBR Tools and resources on "Working from home."

https://hbr.org/video/5812716214001/the-explainer-how-to-collaborate-effectively-if-your-team-is-remote

https://hbr.org/video/6140518023001/how-to-actually-workwhen-youre-working-from-home

Kheepe Lawrence Moremi most welcome dear sir., plus, thanks indeed for your recommended link.

Yes, it can spread in many areas of work. It makes sense because you avoid travelling, renting, driving, etc that bring pollution, noise and waste of everyone's time.

Yes of course

We at King Khalid University currently accredit distance-teaching e-learning, meetings, and conferences.

For more than a month, we continue to work from home.

I think this is normal in such circumstances.

WFH is a interesting program, besides getting more time at home with family, it is also the best way to break the spread of the corona virus outbreak, with this program it is recognized that not all types of work will be effective, as my current job as an airline (flight attendant), this responsibility may not be done in the WFH program, but the important thing is your health and life safety is number one, business can be do it later ... stay strong, stay fit and enjoy the life with your family member as your real asset from God....cheers;))

Thank you for the time and contribution Gloria Angelita

Flight attendant's work can only be done in the aeroplane. Agreed.

Thank you Mutasem Z. Bani-Fwaz Dunya Mohamed Hameed Michael Issigonis for your time and contribution. WFH does sound like the new normal.

Yes Prof. Kheepe Lawrence Moremi

They are doing so & it could be very successful. The disadvantage of this approach is for those countries with a really bad internet speed conection as ours:

175 Venezuela 2.83 Mbps

compare to:

17 North Macedonia 48.20 Mbps

powered by:

https://www.speedtest.net/global-index