A story from the ABC in Adelaide. Working from home is here to stay and it’s good news for those with a disability. I’ve included the full story here.
After 15 years out of the workforce, Samantha Spence was overjoyed when she finally found a job — and surprisingly, she has COVID-19 to thank for it.
While the pandemic has caused job cuts for many, it has also led to new online work opportunities for those living with a disability, who cannot physically go to work.
Mrs Spence, 57, decided 18 months ago she was ready to return to work after spending years learning how to manage the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Mrs Spence has worked in retail management, interior decorating, and as a dental nurse, but despite her extensive experience, she struggled to find a job.
“It was really, really hard because there was not a whole lot of jobs where I could actually work from home,” she said.
But, thanks to the pandemic, she noticed a surge in job advertisements offering remote working and in February she landed a part-time job with an energy saving company.
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” she said. “I feel like I’m absolutely making a contribution, I feel like I’m contributing not only for myself, but for the family.”
The Adelaide mother-of-two said working from home allowed her to manage the seizures, fatigue, pain and mobility issues as part of her MS.
Data from an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey showed 41 per cent of people worked from home at least once a week in February, almost double the number compared to before the pandemic.