Unpopular opinion: Working from home full time is not great for people’s mental health.
The World happiness report 2021 is out. The report found that while flexibility is important, its the social connection that physical workplaces offer that’s invaluable. The meaningful relationships you make with co-workers and management is critical to life satisfaction. Work is so much than a pay check. It is a large part of people’s identity.
The report found that when people lost their jobs last year, they became quite depressed, which of course is no surprise. But what is a surprise is that it was less to do with income but more to do with a loss of social connection and a loss of routine.
This is so important right now as we head back to the office. People obviously really like the flexibility that working from home brings.
Employees are reporting that working from home gave them a better quality of life not previously available to them. They said they were exercising more, having dinner with the family more often, not having to commute etc
Here at Arc Assembly, we believe what actually people want is a bit of both.
This is backed up by the World happiness report’s findings, which says that two days is almost as good as five in terms of that social connection, face to face collaboration and feeling as though you are a part of something. So, offering your people a place to come to for two or more days a week is considered the sweet spot in terms of face to face/in office hours.
Does your current space cater to the new flexibility? Do you have management and technology in place to fortify and support your space and its talent?
Perhaps the space you are currently in is too large if the traditional permanent desk model is now redundant. Would a more agile, task based, and team focused space be more suitable?
Let us help you to foster that social connection and those meaningful connections for your talented people and your clients. Let us create a space where people want and need to be. To create space for great mental health as we head out this pandemic, everything it’s taught us and into the future.
