Work from home again? Modi’s fuel-saving appeal draws smiles and frowns

As corporates were gearing up to bring employees back to offices and enforce mandatory Work from Office policies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fresh appeal encouraging people to work from home.

Addressing a gathering in Hyderabad, Modi yesterday (May 10) urged citizens to adopt work from home as a fuel-saving measure amid rising fuel prices triggered by the US-Iran war in West Asia. He said reducing daily commutes would help conserve fuel and save foreign exchange.

IT industry’s reaction

The Prime Minister’s endorsement of online conferences and virtual meetings has sparked mixed reactions across sectors, particularly among corporate employees and the IT industry.

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Following Modi’s remarks, the IT employee body Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) urged the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment to direct IT and IT-enabled services companies to implement mandatory work from home wherever operationally feasible.

Describing the Prime Minister’s comments as a “national call for collective responsibility”, the body said the IT/ITES sector, employing nearly 5.8 million professionals, has already proven that remote work can be implemented at scale without compromising productivity or business continuity.

Employees prefer WFO

Among employees, however, opinions remain sharply divided.

While some welcomed the possibility of returning to the comfort of working from home, many argued that a prolonged WFH culture negatively affects productivity, collaboration and work-life balance.

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Avinash, a corporate employee, told The Federal that his company had only recently resumed mandatory office attendance after the COVID-19 pandemic and had invested significantly in infrastructure to accommodate employees.

“Going back entirely to work from home will affect team bonding and collaboration. It also becomes difficult to track work effectively, which could eventually impact productivity,” he said, adding that companies could face operational losses if they are forced to reverse their return-to-office plans.

For Akshaya, a working mother, office work offers a clearer separation between professional and personal life.

“As a woman with a young child, working from the office works better for me. It helps me focus and complete tasks without distractions. Once I return home, I can fully spend time with my child without worrying about unfinished work,” she said.

“With WFH, the boundaries between office and home life become blurred. Household responsibilities inevitably spill into work hours, making it difficult to manage both efficiently,” she added.

Hybrid model a win-win situation

Parvathy, another tech employee, said she preferred the hybrid model, which she believes strikes the right balance between collaboration and flexibility. “The hybrid model gives employees dedicated time for collaboration and brainstorming during office days, while also allowing focused, uninterrupted work from home,” she said.

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She added that a fully remote setup can often lead to burnout.

“Without the physical boundary of an office, employees tend to work longer hours, creating a cycle where work never really ends,” she said.

Echoing similar concerns, an HR professional, who did not wish to be identified, told The Federal that most organisations now favour a hybrid approach. “Considering rising operational costs as well as productivity concerns, a hybrid model is a win-win for both employers and employees,” the HR professional said.

The person added that while there has been no official communication yet, many companies have already been preparing to mandate Work from Office again. Modi’s statement, they said, could potentially push organisations back into a COVID-era work culture, reviving concerns around productivity and employee management.

‘No COVID-19 era’

Despite the divided opinions, many employees agreed on one thing — they do not want a return to the COVID-19-era routine of endless virtual meetings and extended working hours.

Apart from advocating work from home, PM Modi also urged people to use metros and public transport wherever possible, and opt for carpooling when private vehicles are necessary.