The world coined a new name last year : The New Normal- Work from home(WFH). Literally the world went to a complete stand still, roads , offices were lying empty, there were no people, no traffic, no roadblocks, no trains etc., just animals roaming around freely.
Corona virus brought everything to a standstill, one will only hear sound of the ambulance sirens passing by, every now and then one or the other neighbor was getting infected, raising more fear amongst others. People had to keep their doors and windows closed literally, in the fear of catching the infection. The first initial months were literally hectic, timebound laws of keeping shops and markets open, just get your things as quickly as possible, keeping one self away from others, maintaining distance in between. Many vegetable markets saw queues which have never happened before. It was really good to see that we humans abided by the laws. The security agencies like the POLICE had a very grueling time keeping there vigil on for hours to maintain complete lockdown across the country rather I should say the world.
As days passed by , the new normal started becoming a new habit, people started mentally settling down in their houses thinking that it would keep themselves safe. A slight miss can bring down a huge calamity in a family. Corona was that fearful. It was more fearful as because no one know about the virus, it was only found out that keeping yourself clean, maintaining social distancing and most important of all keeping ones nose, and mouth covered with a proper mask might keep the virus away. There was an unknown fear which gripped even the strongest Braveheart's.
Hats of to those doctors and nurses and all medical personnel who spent hours and days in hospitals without returning home to their families. The death toll was increasing day by day, millions breathed their last, burning Ghats, burial grounds were running out of woods or space to cremate the ones who passed away. News of mass burnings like what happened during those world war days were prevailing all around. Even burning the dead was a big concern as the virus might spread underground also. The safest bet was burning as fire can kill any virus. People were not even allowed to see their near and dear ones , bodies were put in huge gunny bags and sealed to avoid further infection. Those who dared to open the bags before cremation brought more infection around, such was the tenacity of the virus!
Inspite of all these can any service industry stop, better to say can any industry stop, how would companies earn if they stop working and here came the new working style: WORK FROM HOME. People started calling it the new normal. I remember in the initial days where corona had started wrecking its havoc we all were so perturbed, our families were tensed seeing us going out to work. People started talking with seniors as to what can be done and then finally the day came when it announced by my company that we need to come to office at a certain time to collect our PCs so that we can start work from home, there was a total chaos, IT departments of companies had a tough time aligning the PCs, getting them work ready out of the office network. Many of us didn't get their work stations on the same day, they were delivered later to their homes.
I wonder for companies like mine which are supposed to have a methodical approach to scenarios, who have a BAU approach at all conditions, also suffered then what happened to those organizations who are not. Many people lost their jobs after a couple of months as there was no business. Work from home was not possible for many. We working for white collar organizations were able to sustain but still there were many who were not able to .
Work from home was a boon to many and a bane to many too.
