The Problem with Loneliness

Amongst all the positive stories about the transition to home working arrangements during lockdown, one constant negative is the impact that home working can have on an employee's mental health.

The BBC has reported that ONS statistics show that, in the week following the clocks going back, Britain saw its highest levels of loneliness since the pandemic began (a link to the article is below). This reminds me that, as human beings, we are hardwired for establishing connections, relationships and community - and for many people the workplace fulfils this deep seated need. Missing out on these fundamentals can have a hugely detrimental impact on a person's wellbeing and, ultimately, their mental health. For this reason, if for no other, I'd be reluctant to see home working becoming the default, especially if the driver is just to reduce overheads by cutting down on expensive city centre real estate.

Until we can return to the office, however, it's incumbent on employers to work hard to combat loneliness by maintaining a sense of community amongst their workforce, with employee engagement at or near the top of every Board's agenda.

(Link to BBC article which inspired this blog: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54973709)