In my recent stint in a traditional office environment, I’ve noticed a peculiar trend that goes beyond the remote vs in-office work debate. The issue at hand revolves around the startling lack of actual work happening during office hours. Picture this: the workday begins at 10 a.m., a universal starting point for most employees. However, from 10 a.m. to the lunch break at 2 p.m., it seems like productivity takes a back seat. It’s like watching a slow-motion montage of work pretending to happen. We’re talking a solid 30 to 45 minutes of actual work, generously sprinkled amidst the chaos of office gossip and discussions that could win awards for their randomness.

The lunch break, approximately an hour, often stretches into a prolonged socialising session where conversations dominate over actual eating. Returning to their desks at 3 p.m., employees take a so-called quick break for a walk, citing the need to digest their meals. Fast forward to 4 p.m., with three hours left until the 7 p.m. clock-out time. During this period, employees master the art of squeezing in multiple smoke breaks and dedicating at least an hour to venting frustrations and grievances.

Essentially, the real working time amount to a mere two hours, characterised more by distracted efforts than focused, meaningful work. This raises a critical question about the value of physically being present in the office. What’s the point of physically being in the office if you’re squeezing two hours of work into an eight-hour day? It’s like bringing a laptop to a coffee shop and spending the entire time pretending to write the next great novel but actually just people-watching.

This situation brings to mind recent remarks by Narayana Murthy, who highlighted the importance of working excessively long hours. While I don’t agree that 70-hour workweeks are the solution, there’s a balance to be struck. If employees are physically present in the office, it only makes sense for them to utilise their time effectively. Otherwise, the question arises—what’s the point of being in the office for such limited productivity? Remote work, in comparison, appears to offer a more flexible and potentially more productive alternative, allowing individuals to focus on tasks without the disruptions commonly found in traditional office spaces.