According to new research from desk booking and space management company Chargifi finds that Gen Z and Millennials are feeling the bulk of isolation during this period of working from home.
The survey of 2,000 U.S. and U.K. office workers revealed that two-thirds of employees aged between 18 and 34 felt that since they started working remotely, their ability to create meaningful relationships at work has been hindered.
A large portion of the same age group (81%) also said they would feel increasingly more isolated if they have to work remotely full-time in the future.
Additionally, 71% of respondents felt that their colleagues were more distant, and over half said that remote working has forced them to drift apart from their work friends.
The research also indicated that continued remote working could magnify workers’ social disconnect and hinder their productivity. Even more, 59% said that permanent remote working would decrease their job satisfaction.
“100 percent remote working might be convenient for some, but for others it’s a recipe for loneliness – and younger workers have been disproportionately affected,” said Dan Bladen, CEO of Chargifi. “They’re missing out on the benefits of being surrounded by more experienced colleagues and the informal learning and mentoring that comes with this. What’s more, these younger workers are now quitting if they’re not happy.”
