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In the last few months, as it
became clear that the rapid
spread of the novel
coronavirus would eventually
overwhelm health services,
governments around the world
started to mandate social
distancing in public places to
protect their citizens.
1 Social distancing, which typically involves keeping a certain distance from others and avoiding
large gatherings, is a sound non-pharmaceutical intervention commonly used during epidemics.
It prevents person-to-person transmission of contagions and helps authorities to contain disease
outbreaks.
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3 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries not only mandated basic social
distancing, but also closed down schools, shops and offices, cancelled all conferences and
meetings, and banned domestic and international travel.
4 These shutdowns sent economies into meltdown and caused real financial hardship for small
businesses and people in the gig economy in many countries. Some companies, whose workers
are able to work remotely, however, managed to not only continue business as usual amid the
chaos, but increase their employees¶ productivity.
5 The success of remote work is no coincidence. Studies have shown that when it is done right,
remote work can improve employee productivity, creativity and morale. It has also been
established that remote work leads workers to take fewer sick days and less vacation time,
resulting in more workdays overall. Moreover, it can save businesses thousands of dollars a
month per employee in office and other expenses.
6 After being compelled to invest in tools that make remote work easier and more efficient due
to the coronavirus pandemic, and experiencing the benefits of this new work model, many
companies are considering allowing their employees to work from home indefinitely.
7 Social media giant Twitter recently announced that it would support employees, who are able
and willing to work from home to do so ³forever´. Many other tech giants, from Facebook to
Google, also said they are planning to support remote work ³for the foreseeable future´.
8 The business world¶s apparent move towards remote work is good news not only for
companies themselves and their employees, but also for the wider society and the environment.
Businesses can help the fight against climate change and protect public health by continuing to
support remote work where possible even after the end of this pandemic.
Big co
between
small co
5, 6, 7
mention
s that
some
big
compani
es
already
support
working
from
home
forever
9 Widespread remote work practices would reduce the number of vehicles on our roads. This
would lead to a drop in greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. In the
European Union, road transportation accounts for 72 percent of total carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions, while in the US emissions from all transportation – cars, trucks, trains, ships,
aeroplanes and other vehicles – make up 29 percent.
10 The world has already seen an average of a 6 percent drop in greenhouse gases amid the
coronavirus pandemic due to lockdowns and industry shutdowns. While it would be impossible
to keep to this level after the end of the pandemic, remote work can help us hold on to some of
the environmental gains we made during this crisis.
11 It is easy to see how fewer cars on our roads could help mitigate the harmful effects of
climate change. This could also mean densely populated cities would be less polluted, residents
would have access to fresher air and children would be less vulnerable to illnesses like
pneumonia.
12 With cleaner air, improvements in health can happen fast. As a report from the American
Thoracic Society notes, ³Within a few weeks, respiratory and irritation symptoms, such as
shortness of breath, cough, phlegm, and sore throat, disappear; school absenteeism, clinic
visits, hospitalisations, premature births, cardiovascular illness and death, and all-cause
mortality decrease significantly.´ Further, eliminating the stress of commuting could lead to lower
blood pressure and a decrease in risks associated with cardiovascular diseases such as
hypertension, which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), causes 7.5 million
deaths globally every year.
13 Fewer vehicles on roads would also result in fewer traffic accidents. According to the Institute
for Health Metrics and Evaluation, globally, road traffic crashes was the sixth leading cause of
death in 2017. According to WHO, in 2018 alone, 1.35 million people around the world lost their
lives in road traffic accidents. On average, road traffic crashes cause 3,287 deaths per day, and
injure or disable thousands of others. Estimates by the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention show that every year, 3 million people are injured in nonfatal crashes in the US.
Furthermore, medical care costs and productivity losses in the US due to car crashes was
above $75bn in 2017.
9,10,1
1,12
points
out
that
Every
one is
at
home
and
there
are
only a
few
cars
left, so
polluti
on is
reduc
ed
and
diseas
es are
also
reduc
ed
14 Remote work would also help reduce some of the disadvantages women have in the
workplace and contribute to maternal and infant health. Many women around the world still do
not have adequate maternity leave, and others choose not to use the maternity leave they have
in full because they cannot survive on the limited maternity pay they receive or are scared of
harming their career prospects by staying away from the office for too long. Many new mothers
who return to work a few months – or even weeks – after giving birth also face a difficult choice
between either giving up on breastfeeding completely or enduring the stresses of pumping milk
in the workplace. Remote work can resolve all these issues. New mothers can return to work in
the comfort of their homes, not endure long commutes before their bodies fully recover, remain
close to their babies even during working hours, and breastfeed or pump comfortably in private.
15 It is clear that coronavirus is redefining the future of work and providing a great opportunity
for establishing long-term policies that can increase the health and happiness of employees and
nations, while also helping businesses increase their profits. Remote work can change the world
for the better. All businesses that can should consider allowing their employees to work from
home even after our fight against coronavirus is over.
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Shark: Blood and Dr. Ramos
Eight-year-old Jim Morris, wading in the warm current off Florida’s Gulf Coast, swam easily toward his sister Amy and his uncle Robert. But the kids’ fun in the shoulder-deep water was cut short by Jim’s shouts of “Get it off me! Get it off me! ” Amy’s screams sliced through the peacefully rolling breakers like […]
