'This Is How COVID-19 Has Impacted Workers Lives Around The World' is an article by World Economic Forum about workplace well-being.
Excerpt: Stress, anxiety and loneliness have increased among working people, according to a new survey, underscoring the ongoing toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of working adults experienced anxiety relating to their job security and stress due to changes in their working patterns, according to a World Economic Forum-Ipsos survey.
Liz’s perspective... It didn’t surprise me to read about the increased stress, anxiety, and loneliness workers across the world are feeling as a result of the pandemic, I’ve experienced those emotions myself, as have anecdotally most of my friends and family too. What can we as a society do about the loneliness felt by 49% of workers globally (by 55% of Canadians and 44% of Americans)? How can we help ourselves and each other cope and remain connected during these troubling times? I believe it starts with self-care. Remember that you love and are loved. Reach out to people in your life regularly to tell them that you’re thinking of them, share a story, take a distanced walk, or watch a show together. This approach can also be extended to colleagues. Think of the folks with whom you’d chat, grab a coffee, or go out for lunch, then find ways to create more moments of conversation and camaraderie with them online (or in whatever ways are safe and allowed in your area). We’re all in this together.
Ta’s perspective... Many of my friends from around the world have told me they are feeling isolated and stressed while working from home during this pandemic. I have felt the same way — and according to this article almost half of remote workers globally are feeling similarly. During these challenging times, I have found connection in many online experiences. The biggest inspiration for the creation of Smith Assembly’s online inclusion training workshop was facilitating human connection and bringing together diverse voices through online events. As social beings, we will continue to come up with creative approaches to socializing, and in 2021 many of us have the privilege of leveraging technology for this. One key learning for me, when approaching virtual experiences, has been making sure I don’t expect from them an equivalent to their in-person experience. The virtual world offers different possibilities and therefore results when compared to the physical world, and because of this, also distinct challenges and opportunities. Let’s take advantage of these differences to continue to tackle loneliness and mental health during this global pandemic with innovative products and programs!