We need to talk about working from home

I'm coming to end of a fixed-term contract and its continuation is a little up in the air, so I've been back in the job hunting game, scouring LinkedIn and all of the usual design jobs boards on a daily basis for potential opportunities. I've seen plenty of roles that I'd be perfect for, either because of my specific experience (I have a bit of a sports niche) or because I think I'd be a great cultural fit. But more often than not, my application is halted before it's even begun due to the same few words:

*insert number* days in office, London.

I could write an entire blog post about the problem surrounding most creative jobs being in London, freezing out talent further afield. But that's not the issue here, the issue is having to work in person at all*. 

I'd never call the COVID-19 pandemic a blessing. (That would be a particularly hard statement to make as somebody who's suffering from the effects of Long COVID - but we'll circle back to that later). It did, however, highlight the ability of businesses to move online, with the wealth of connectivity and digital collaboration platforms at our disposal. It undoubtedly saved countless companies, allowing business to continue (almost) as usual, with workers safe in their homes rather than intermingling in an office. A bricks and mortar workplace, whilst brimming with benefits, quickly lost its necessity. It almost seemed long overdue that employers would realise how high rents and overheads were no longer essential in the digital age. 

When the pandemic simmered down, lockdowns lifted and mask mandates disappeared, businesses seemed to react in three ways. The first way (and what I experienced in my job at the time) was businesses desperate to get back to in person working, keen to make the most of lengthy tenancy agreements and to reintroduce face-to-face collaboration. The second (and most common) way was a slow and incremental return to the office; these companies may still be hybrid today, but with the expectation of 3-4 days in the office. The final (and rarest) way was to continue to embrace remote working, recognising the improved work/life balance for employees, as well as cost-effectiveness. Based on my recent job search, the latter is hard to come by, and roles at remote-first companies face increased competitiveness, making them incredibly difficult to secure.

So why is this an issue for me? Anyone who knows me personally will know I'm an outgoing person, who loves spending IRL time with my colleagues. I love the workplace banter, M&S lunches, after work pints. I also understand the increased ease of communication in person – no waiting for a Slack reply or unanswered Teams calls. Plus, as creatives, what better way to brainstorm ideas than in a room together, sketching and chatting and creating quick mock ups? Yes, in person working is ideal...for most.

The thing is, in 2024 after my fourth bout of COVID, I simply never fully recovered. I've told this story countless times so I'll keep it brief, but essentially I was diagnosed with Long COVID, an umbrella term for a wide range of post-COVID complications. In my case, I was left with chronic fatigue, a heart condition called POTS, and neurological issues (light sensitivity being the primary one). After 34 years of being fit and healthy, an active member of society and the workforce, a contributor, a grafter...I suddenly faced a life limited by chronic illness. 

Despite this, I didn't take a single day off work (some might say that wasn't very sensible, but I'm stubborn as a mule). I carried on working, even laid down on my sofa (in the early days) as I was, thankfully, a freelancer and had no obligation to commute to an office. I still performed to a high level, giving every ounce of energy that I had to work. I had to prove to myself that being physically limited didn't mean I was no longer good at my job, and I did that. 

Now, nearly 2 years later, and with my (remote) FTC winding down, I'm faced with a difficult decision. Do I take a punt on a hybrid role that requires multiple days a week of commuting, knowing this could (and likely would) have a seriously detrimental impact on my health? Or, do I hold out for one of those ever rarer, ever more competitive remote roles that would allow me to continue growing in my career without compromising my health? And in the meantime, with limited job options, how will I pay my bills?

A lot of companies pedal the DEI message hard, but how often really is disability considered? And how often is disability, and the breadth of what disability means, truly understood? Should there be more flexibility in hiring, to allow people with genuine restrictions to be on remote contracts, contrary to the wider company policy? The pandemic proved it can work; all it takes is trust, good communication, and consistency. An argument might be "Well, that's not fair on the other workers who have to be in the office". Well, with all due respect, I'd much rather have my health back and be able to commute than be chronically ill and working from home. Which would you prefer?!

I'm good at what I do, I'm dedicated (sometimes to a fault...ie. not taking a single day off when in the acute days of chronic illness 😅), I'm a hard worker, and a team player. I'm able to do my job at home just as well as anyone else can do it in the office. I'll also always make an effort to show up in person when my health allows (whether that's once a month or once a fortnight; I simply require a lot more time to recover physically from a long commute than your average person). But, currently, I'm excluded from consideration for the vast majority of positions that I see because I genuinely cannot meet the physical expectations of the role, even if I know I can meet (and exceed) every other expectation. 

I think this is a really important topic of discussion, and I'm embarrassed that it took me personally becoming disabled (side note: I still don't know if I have the right to use that word, even though this condition has had an adverse affect on my quality of life for nearly 2 years) to give it any real consideration. Being healthy and able-bodied is something I know I took for granted, and I'm sure most other people take for granted too. Facing the loss of that, and having to adapt your life and career around uncontrollable constraints sometimes feels like an insurmountable task. But I believe with better understanding and flexibility, people like me can continue to work hard and be positive members of the workforce.

EDIT: I'm aware of the right to reasonable adjustments, unfortunately with a condition like Long COVID the legal definition of this as a "disability" is still quite blurry.

*Working in person "at all" is a bit extreme. As mentioned in this post, I'll always try to show up in person when I physically can. But that's never going to be multiple days a week, unfortunately.