Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Facilitate Magazine Issues
  • November 2020
News
Comment
Workplace Performance
Health & Wellbeing

Lonely Workers Club

Open-access content Niki Fuchs — Monday 2nd November 2020
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 2 years old.
web_31_headhot_pink.png

Loneliness at work is a pressing concern for employees' wellbeing, says Niki Fuchs.

The shift towards working from home has dealt a considerable blow to the UK’s productivity. The Office for National Statistics has reported a year-on-year decline in productivity of 3.1 per cent and 2.5 per cent in the first and second quarter, respectively, in 2020.

With output per worker also declining by 19.9 per cent, those hailing the pandemic as the death knell of the office must consider the impact on workers.

The limitations of conference calls and cloud connectivity have been well documented, but the psychological and emotional toll of working from home is coming into the spotlight.

A recent OSiT survey suggested that 29 per cent of workers found loneliness to be the biggest downside of working from home, with 25 per cent of respondents reporting feelings of anxiety.

These negative feelings promoted our divisional manager Georgia Sandom to establish a ‘Lonely Workers Club’ in July. The club has provided some workers with a safe, communal workspace, offering much-needed respite from the isolation of working from home.

“Lonely workers take twice as many sick days”

Lonely workers take twice as many sick days, perform less well, and demonstrate less commitment. Our survey shows that 33 per cent of workers think that collaborating with colleagues makes them more loyal, yet the closure of offices is causing 32 per cent to suffer from missed collaboration.

Working from home has thrown many people’s work-life balance into disarray, with many unable to switch off from work at home, which is a contributory factor to burnout, affecting output and productivity.

Businesses face a longer-term challenge to get teams back to work, but it’s clear that the impact on worker productivity and wellbeing must urgently be addressed – an issue recognised by recent government guidance on working from home.

A safe return to the office in line with government guidance is going to be critical if this generation of workers is to be able to reach its full potential.

Niki Fuchs is managing director of Office Space in Town

FAC.Nov20 FULL CROPPED.jpg
This article appeared in our November 2020 issue of Facilitate Magazine .
Click here to view this issue

You may also be interested in...

web_p5_martin.png

Turning crisis into opportunity

The narrative surrounding facilities and workplace management is one that is based on compassion, collaboration and sheer hard graft, says Martin Read.
Monday 2nd November 2020
Open-access content
web_31_headshot_blue.png

Is the sun going down on the office?

Remote working is a potential boon when it comes to recruiting new talent, says Nikki Lathsbury.
Monday 2nd November 2020
Open-access content
web_30_headshot_green.png

One year on

Previous IWFM Newcomer of the Year Maddie Hayes reflects on her career since winning the award in 2019.
Monday 2nd November 2020
Open-access content
web_30_headshot_purple.png

Embrace digital twins

A digital twin – created during the construction process or while the building is ‘live’ – delivers all the necessary information to your device, says Keith Gould.
Monday 2nd November 2020
Open-access content
web_47_headshot_Graham-Davies.png

How do we create a fairer economy?

The government needs to encourage more socially and environmentally responsible practices if it wants the UK to 'build back better', says Graeme Davies.
Monday 2nd November 2020
Open-access content
web_20_Screenshot-2020-10-21-at-14.21.44.png

IWFM Impact Awards 2020: Covid-19 response awards

"Facilitate celebrates the extraordinary work from workplace and facilities undertaken at the frontline of the nation’s effort to combat COVID-19. "
Monday 2nd November 2020
Open-access content
Filed in
News
Also filed in
Comment
Workplace Performance
Health & Wellbeing
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

 

Latest Jobs

Interim Head of Health & Safety

Suffolk
£250.00 - £300.00 per day (premium day rate)
Reference
59637

Contracts & Senior Estates Project Manager

North West England
£29.53 per hour
Reference
59633

Facilities Manager

London (Central)
up to £43,000 + excellent benefits including car
Reference
59631
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2023 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ