Much has been written about the perks of working remotely. Employees gain more flexibility, freedom in their environment, while employers can cut down on their overhead costs.
However, for some professionals, the negatives of this work model have outpaced the positives.
For Cat, a remote worker based in London, working from home seemed like a reasonable arrangement due to the pandemic. But as time went on, the isolation began to take its toll.
“Working alone all day every day, particularly when my partner is in the office, is tough,” said Cat. “Sometimes, I won’t see anyone all day, which can be very lonely.”
“I’ve found that instead of taking breaks to chat to people in my office, I pick up my phone. All of the extra screen time has definitely had a negative impact on my wellbeing.”
Working remotely has undoubtedly given professionals a new sense of what work-life balance can look like, but humans crave social interaction. Without it, they can face a slew of mental health issues.
In fact, research shows that 80% of UK workers reported a dip in their mental health due to working from home.
“When working remotely, we miss out on the social cues of a busy office and much needed social-interactions – catching up in the corridor, or making a drink in the kitchen while checking in and asking about the weekend,” said Nicola Hemmings, a workplace scientist at Koa Health “These seemingly small moments can collectively have a large impact on our wellbeing.”
