Companies Might Send Millions of Employees to Work From Home. Is That Such a Bad Thing?
Confusion and productivity losses might well result—but perhaps innovation, too

While employees who work from home are often more productive, some workers prefer the office.
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Key insights:
- It’s likely more companies will have no choice but to let employees work from home.
- While research holds that employees who work remotely are happier and more productive, it’s not true for all workers.
- After some unavoidable short-term disruption, it’s possible this challenging period might also give way to innovation.
With the number of coronavirus cases multiplying by the day, the media is overflowing with coverage of the epidemic, especially the toll it’s now taking on the economy. The virus has already had a demonstrable impact on business, from supply-chain interruptions in China to forecasted red ink for industries such as airlines and cruise operators.