Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
More and more workplaces are moving towards remote and digital positions as flexible working continues to take over. With these new working practices and their numerous benefits comes an adverse effect — loneliness.
Many workers who work flexibly use technology for the majority of their tasks and communication with others, which almost completely replaces the need for face-to-face interactions with others. This sort of isolation can hurt productivity in the long run.
In order to encourage interaction in a natural way, employers should keep in mind how to design their offices to ensure their employees are making the most out of their day.
Coworking and flexible offices can provide the perfect haven for getting work done and interacting with like-minded people. Several of these offices offer breakout areas where workers can socialize, as well as collaborate with others.
Another way to keep employees engaged with one another for at least a portion of the workday is introducing technology-free zones, as SoundCloud does in its Berlin office.
Overall, a well-designed workspace and supportive culture can help remote and digital workers avoid health-hindering loneliness.
