Working from Home and the Empty City Center

In the past, thousands of people travelled into the city center every morning.

They filled the trains, bought coffee near their offices, and ate lunch in local restaurants.

Since the pandemic, many companies have let their staff work from home for most of the week.

As a result, some business districts now look surprisingly quiet on Mondays and Fridays.

Office buildings that once held hundreds of workers stand half empty, and small shops that depended on those workers are closing.

City planners are worried because fewer commuters means less money for public transport.

However, not everyone sees this change as a problem.

Families who moved to the suburbs enjoy shorter trips to work and more time at home.

Some cafes have opened in residential areas to serve these new remote workers.

Still, the question remains: what will become of the large office towers in the center?

Several cities are now turning empty offices into apartments, hoping to bring life back to the streets.