I keep reading more and more businesses saying that they can work from home now and are either closing their offices or drastically sizing down.

With the pandemic, many businesses, especially those that are phone-based customer services, or digital/creative ones, were able to easily move to their staff working from phone. Things like Cloud services, VOIP phones, laptops and VPNs are the technologies that bring it all together.

I think it's fantastic that it all just happened and that the investment in good IT has made it easy.

Then Zoom, the video conferencing system, came into its own. Business sales continued to be done. Business networking became Zoom meetings.

Some people put forward a counter to those proclaiming they are all now working from home, as if it is the same as before. Yes, people are at home, working, but under the forced climate created by the pandemic. It's not a usual working from home scenario.

Another difference is, when you apply for a job, you know whether it is an office based one or a home-based one. This change may not have been one that you signed up to, or totally agree with but there maybe a strong overarching opinion that everyone falls in line with.

I've done a few Zoom calls with the team. Because of the data centre facility and night shift cover, we have had people onsite in the main, but just one or two people at a time. As I look around the screen and see the backdrops, I simply can't help feeling that although as a business we can provide expensive ergonomic chairs, wrist supports, laptop stands, more tech, I cannot buy them space.

One bedroom flats, in the eaves, do not seem a comfortable work environment for the long term. I have the luxury of being in a house, with a study, lounge and dining room, all of which I can park myself for the day, as well as a garden to step into. Even after two months, I had enough of working from home.

I miss the laughter. I miss the casual conversations. I also miss the opportunity to interact and coach the younger members of the team.

I would totally agree to bettering the work life balance and staff working from home on Mondays and Fridays as standard if they wish too. This can give more time with family instead of commuting and also reduces road traffic.

I hope there is a bounce back with respect to the thinking on offices. I feel there has to be a place for a heartbeat for many business and not to give up on that too quickly.