10 tips to beat the loneliness of remote working

Studies show that loneliness is the biggest challenge facing remote workers. More people than ever feel that they have no friends at work, and they feel less connected to their company because of it, according to new research by Dan Schawbel.

And it’s a big challenge for employers too; lonely workers struggle with mental health, and productivity and are more likely to leave. Here are 10 tips for both employees and employers to make remote working feel less remote.

For Employees

1.Work at least one day per week away from home.

Get out to a coffee shop, library, or co-working space at least one day a week to surround yourself with people. Bring a friend who also works remotely if you can, or try reaching out to other remote workers in your area to organise a meetup. But even if you do not talk to anyone, just getting out of the house should help you feel less alone.

2.Take advantage of your flexible schedule

Working flexible hours means you can make time for extra socialising during the week. These activities could be grabbing coffee or breakfast with a friend, spending spare time with your children, or taking your dog for a long walk. Enjoy the added social opportunities home working brings.

3.Make plans after work

Make plans with friends or family on weekday evenings if you feel lonely. This will help you get out of the house (or at least off the computer) and ensure your workdays have a definite end rather than dragging on until bedtime, which can lead to burnout.

4.Join or form social groups at work

Whatever system you and your colleagues use to communicate online, use it to form groups where you can communicate socially too, whether it’s a monthly Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc call for working parents or just a Slack group for showing each other pet photos.

5.Get on a call instead of emailing

If you need a brainstorm or an involved discussion with colleagues, get on a video or phone call. It will save the stress of trying to explain complicated matters over email and also give you–and your colleagues–a sense of human connection.

For Employers

6. Offer a co-working space stipend

Suppose your office employee perks are still only relevant to people who are actually in the office. In that case, it’s time to rethink your benefits package. Take that money you are saving on free coffee in the office and pay your remote workers a stipend to spend time in a coffee shop or co-working space.

7. Have team-wide or company-wide virtual hangouts

Create virtual social meetings where your remote teams can bond, whether it’s coffee and learning together or a stronger beverage and a bit of fun or random conversation.

8. Bring people together physically if you can

If your people live close enough to make it feasible, bring everyone into the office for a monthly or quarterly meeting.

9. Schedule all-company events at least once yearly

You might question the expense of gathering people from around the country once or twice a year. Still, a little in-person contact goes a long way in building relationships and will help people feel more connected for the rest of the year. A Christmas party costs a lot less (and is more fun) than losing people and productivity to loneliness.

10. Make remote workers feel included in meetings

A smart 360-degree camera like the Meeting Owl Pro can make a big difference in how people feel. Do not leave your remote workers out if you’re having an in-person meeting for those in the office. Make sure you add a video conferencing link and invite them to join–and make sure all your in-person attendees are logged into the video conference.

Keeping employees motivated and engaged and not feeling remote is hard work but critical for business success. Remember to make the time and financial investment as it will pay off in employee engagement and ultimately “hiring and developing people” is one of the most important things we do in business.

As we move towards a post-pandemic work environment, it is becoming clear that leaders, managers, and businesses that will succeed are those who put people at the very heart of their organisation and understand that as our style of working changes, mental health in the workplace is changing with it.

For more information on our knowledge-led approach to recruitment and the outlook for 2022, please contact info@redlinegroup.com.