Why This Photo Reignited the WFH Debate: ‘I’d Get in Trouble’

Two women have unwittingly sparked a heated debate about work-from-home privileges after they were pictured sunbathing on a popular beach on their laptops.

The couple were spotted leisurely using their computers at Balmoral Beach in North Sydney on a hot and sunny Friday afternoon.

It was posted on social media shortly after, leaving many angry that they might be working from the beach.

Flexible and mobile working arrangements became increasingly popular during the coronavirus lockdowns, when many employees were forced to work from home.

While it is not certain whether they were working or doing other tasks such as university work, some said it was time for those working from home to “grow up and go back to work”.

“As an employer, I would be tracking your every move and location if I were even considering allowing people to WFH,” one user wrote on TikTok.

“Most companies wouldn’t allow this due to sensitive information, depends what your job is I guess,” commented a second.

“I’m WFH and would definitely get in trouble.”

Some defended the girls, claiming they could have been doing a number of other things on the computer instead of working.

“Who says they even work, they could work at college or have their own small business and not even have bosses,” one wrote.

“People assume it so quickly.”

Others were more confused about their decision to work from their laptops as the sand could damage them.

“I’m surprised their laptops don’t overheat,” one commented.

Another noted that they “can’t think of a worse place to use a laptop.”

Lauren Yehezkel, a coaching business owner who shared the video, said it was just the latest in a series of posts about the strange places people are spending their home office time.

The pair are not the first to be spotted by Ms Yehezkel working on the beach, while she has seen others carrying out their daily tasks in pubs and parks.

“I think it has also become the new normal. I’ve never seen it that much until this year and I was pretty amazed,” she told news.com.au.

A number of Australians urged those who had WFH to “grow up” and return to the office, a sentiment held by a growing number of top executives around the world (file image)

Ms Yehezkel said she would have no problem with one of her employees working from home, but added that the beach was a step too far.

The image shows a number of large companies such as Tabcorp and Flight Center calling their workers back to the office for the entire five-day week.

More and more leaders are feeling pressure to bring workers back to face-to-face work as time passes since the pandemic, when WFH was essential.

KPMG’s CEO Outlook 2024 survey found that 83 percent of 1,300 CEOs worldwide predict the work-from-home era will end within the next three years.

The survey found bosses are taking a firmer stance on WFH in 2024, after 64 percent of business leaders predicted workers would return full-time last year.

Good news for workers is that those who return to the office can expect to be rewarded.

Of the CEOs surveyed, 87 percent said they were more likely to give raises, promotions and favorable assignments to employees who made the effort to be in the office.