Task 2 model answer: Working from home

Since the pandemic, working from home has shifted from a rare privilege to a normal arrangement for millions of office workers. In my opinion, the benefits of this trend outweigh its drawbacks, provided that employers manage it carefully.

The most obvious advantage is the time and money saved by eliminating the daily commute. An employee who previously spent ninety minutes a day travelling regains more than seven hours a week, which can be devoted to family, exercise or rest. Remote work also widens opportunity: companies can hire talented people regardless of where they live, and workers with disabilities or caring responsibilities can participate more fully in the labour market. Many firms have additionally reduced their office costs significantly.

Nevertheless, there are genuine disadvantages. Working alone can lead to isolation, and the boundary between professional and personal life often becomes blurred, with some employees answering emails late into the evening. Junior staff may suffer most, since they learn a great deal by observing experienced colleagues — something that is far harder to do through a screen.

However, these problems are largely solvable. Hybrid arrangements, in which staff spend two or three days a week in the office, preserve mentoring and team spirit while keeping most of the flexibility. Clear rules on working hours can also protect employees from burnout. By contrast, the advantages — more time, wider access to jobs and lower costs — are structural and lasting.

Overall, I believe that working from home is a positive development. Its disadvantages are real but can be managed, whereas its benefits fundamentally improve how many people live and work.