A former HR urges companies to normalise WFH again as 2026 return-to-office plans worsen traffic congestion and packed public transport.
AS more companies signal a full return-to-office (RTO) starting 2026, one former HR professional has sparked online debate by urging employers to reconsider — especially in light of worsening traffic congestion and overcrowded public transport.
In a Threads post that has since gained traction, the former HR wrote: “Any companies that are asking employees to return to the office starting 2026 should really consider bringing back WFH arrangements.
“Just look at the traffic lately. Public transport is packed too.
“Please normalise WFH or at least hybrid working arrangements. Companies aren’t losing anything — in fact, it’s good for employee morale to have flexibility.
“Sincerely, a former HR,” the post read.
The post resonated with many working Malaysians who say commuting has become increasingly exhausting, with peak-hour gridlock and packed trains adding hours of unpaid travel time to their day.
“Most big bosses are still dinosaurs — they don’t trust their staff and always think employees aren’t working when they’re WFH. That’s the main problem. They still treat the office like it’s school,” one user called sydarskhmd commented.
Another user called scorpirea sahred: “I have to leave my housing area by 6:30am sharp. If I’m late by even 5–10 minutes, I get stuck in really bad traffic now. Before this, I could still leave around 6:40–6:50am. Now it’s not possible anymore.
“A 20-minute journey has turned into a 1-hour drive. It’s strange how there are suddenly so many vehicles — turns out a lot of people have started going back to the office (WFO) again.”
Several netizens pointed out that during the pandemic, many companies successfully operated remotely — with some even reporting improved productivity and reduced operational costs.
“Before Covid, only Heads of Department (HODs) were allowed to work from home.
After the MCO, everyone was given the opportunity, and our CEO eventually made it an official company policy. Now we get to enjoy two days of WFH every week. Work-life balance is on point,” noorazian_abdulrashid shared.
However, not everyone agreed. Some argued that physical presence improves collaboration, strengthens company culture, and ensures accountability — especially for roles that require teamwork and real-time coordination.
“Because there are some people who abused the privilege of working from home. I don’t blame some bosses for refusing to allow WFH arrangements,” nadiidea.arts wrote.
