Patna: 9 to 5 working hours a thing of the past?

PATNA: The nationwide Covid-19 lockdown has drastically changed the work culture of most organizations in the city with the virtual disappearance of 9-to-5 office hours. Remote working has become the new normal for most establishments and people are gradually adjusting themselves to the new order.
Even in establishments, which do not provide ‘work from home’ facility for its staff, the work environment is witnessing a remarkable change these days.In most offices, only one-third of the total strength is called for work daily for maintaining social distance. Naturally, only essential business is being transacted in these offices.
“In the regional office of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) at Kankarbagh, only officers above the rank of deputy secretary are supposed to report to their duties daily. The remaining officers and staff come to office on rotational basis. Most officers and staff are working from home and disposing of some urgent works,” GSI director Bishwapriya told this newspaper.
He pointed out that even work from home was not a good proposition for many employees, who did not find sufficient space and time for office work at home. “In fact, ‘work for home’ mostly turns into ‘work for home’ as one has to listen to the demands of other members of the family, including wife and children, who all are staying together,” he added.
Even banks are working with limited officers and staff. “Usually not more than 50% of the staff report to their duties daily and the others have the liberty to dispose of some urgent assignments online from home,“ said Indian Bank manager Arvind Kumar.
As normal academic activities are paralysed in all universities and no one is attending classes, there are no working hours for teachers and students. Most teachers are busy preparing e-content and video lectures and uploading them to the designated websites for the benefit of students. Naturally, they have adopted ‘work from home’ culture. Even the officers and non-teaching employees of colleges and universities do not report to their duties daily and the normal 9 to 5 office hours have become a thing of the past.
“In Nalanda Open University, only one-third of the staff are reporting to their duties and there are hardly any fixed hours of work. At times, they have to stay longer in their office rooms,” said joint registrar Amar Nath Pandey.
However, the work from home culture enforced by some establishments has turned the entire timetable of most employees topsy-turvy. As they have no fixed working hours and they need not go to their offices, they remain in pyjamas while working online. “I have become lazy these days and don’t bother to shave or take a bath. Sometimes, I have to complete my assignments at night when all my family members are asleep,” said a corporate office employee, Rakesh Ranjan.