What does it matter if there is an inset day or caring for old mum takes place when the same amount of work can be done?
If a member of my staff was able to look after a young child or ill parent whilst doing correctly their job, I'd be questioning their workload. What do during à day in the office when they don't have distractions?
But a lot of this argument is a perception. You are picturing people being distracted, busy with other things most of the time if you don't see them. I worked from home, family members work currently from home and they actually work hard and long hours, we take responsibility, you know.
Not all caring for children involves young children, 10 year olds don't require much attention during working hours, but you can't legally leave children alone at home until 14.
Caring for a sick parent during working hours involves giving them meals and medication about twice, maybe helping to the toilet twice, it would take no more than an hour overall during the day, which can be compensated by working one hour longer. Even formal social care visits are about 1-3 hours per day, which can b compensated by working longer due to avoiding commute.
I agree about the really young children, but even there with a 6 years old it is possible to do about half of the work on an inset day, that would avoid delays and backload at work. What if a parent would ask to accept that the work at home with a 6 y.o. would count for half a day?
My point was precisely that at home people work the same amount of time / workload but in a difference sequence over time, sometimes with breaks if they need to. At home people can start work earlier (instead of commute), continue later (after e,g, 5 pm), or continue later in the evening to catch up (e,. after dinner). If people are motivated and enjoy their work, they take responsibility. If people overall do the same amount of work, what is the problem?
in the office when they don't have distractions
But there are plenty of distractions in the office. People don't work 8 hours solid at the same level of focus. Physiologically people work in bursts of intense activity interspersed with breaks and slower periods. They chat, have drinks, breaks, have meetings, stare at the screen while daydreaming.
The distractions in the open space with noise and traffic behind your back and the hot desking is a huge impediment to focus actually. When I was working I always stayed at home to prepare important reports and presentations , to avoid distractions in the office..
The idea that you can make 'intellectual work' in the office as efficient as a sweatshop, a conveyor belt is probably not realistic. You will compromise quality of ideas, outcomes, morale, health and ultimately competitiveness. Why do Google famously have all those playground distractions in their offices?