Lonely-workers Club

No commuting and comfy pyjamas cannot make up for what is lost in social interaction.

Everyday I am engaging in conversations about working from home since COVID-19 enforced a global lockdown and I am sure no-one wants to read another opinion piece… but here I am writing about my Lonely-Workers Club (est.July 2020).

The biggest take away from discussions around working from home, ‘the office is dead’, ‘flexible working the new normal’ is that there is a huge, unwavering divide in opinion.

WFH advocates sing the tune of productivity and focus, with less distractions they can work faster and harder. This and the bonus of later wake up calls, the proximity to the fridge and the flexibility to wear the comfiest clothes they can find.

 And while this is the dream life for some, for others it has been a time of darkness. Overwhelming feelings of loneliness brought on by a lack of human contact and conversation. A complete disruption to everyday routine and a fear of normality not resuming soon causing anxiety and worry.

A survey that Office Space in Town (OSiT) carried out showed the impacts of lockdown remote working on wellbeing. Nearly a third (29%) of respondents felt that loneliness was the biggest downside to working from home, whilst a further 25% reported feelings of anxiety. A large portion of respondents also cited a lack of ability to ‘unplug’ from work (37%) as a major disadvantage. 

I have a network of people around me who have not been able to enjoy home working like others have and who have been struggling with their mental health because of this. I empathise fully having started lockdown working from home and hating it after day 3, hating the walls enclosing me in my home all day and night and yearning to see my colleagues. I also saw the breakdown of my relationship in this period, which further fuelled my desire to get out and get stuck back into normal working life, drinks after work and seeing friends.

So here we are, a group of friends working full time for different companies in completely different industries ranging from credit insurance to engineering, all with differing reasons for disliking working from home but all stuck with the same lonely feelings. Luckily, one of us works in the Serviced Office industry (..me!) so I decided to create a community at one of our Serviced Office buildings in St Paul’s.  Using a Show Office, I invited them all to work from here until their companies allow them to use their Central London offices.

The benefit for me is that it has brought some life to the building while a large portion of my clients are still working from home. It has also helped on viewings as potential new clients can see a working office with people in, which I always feel helps the client visualize their team occupying the office better.

The benefits for them, well I think it is best you hear it from them…

Abbie (Insurance)

As a Saleswoman, I’ve always enjoyed the social side of work. Office banter, the buzz of a big pitch, meetings and cocktails after work – it’s why I chose and love working in the City of London.

To say lockdown was a shock to the system would be a severe understatement. My partner, a Gas Engineer and key worker, was out of the house most of the day; keeping our homes warm and safe at a time when more of us saw ourselves at home.

Sadly, for me, this meant endless days spent working in the kitchen alone. It was tough to keep upbeat and smiling – something fundamental to closing a deal and I was started to feel increased levels of anxiety. The strange thing is, you can’t really pinpoint when or why you started feeling anxious, and this makes it even more terrifying when you suffer your first panic attack. It’s not extreme to say you truly believe you are dying. Chest so tight you can’t take a full breath and a heart that’s racing so fast it surely must give up soon.

The company I work for is of course putting the safety of their employees at the forefront of their decision making and as a result the office is not due to open until around October. This certainly does reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19; but leaves your mental health in an incredibly vulnerable position. I fear I’ll never feel quite as secure in my wellbeing as I did pre-Covid; as the underlying terror of another bout of anxiety or panic attack is all too real.

I know a number of people will be loving life; no commute, saving money on trains and food and getting more sleep than ever, but for me, this fundamental part of my life which brings so much joy has been completely lost.

I am incredibly lucky and thankful that I have such a close friendship group, and once the initial shock and embarrassment of the panic attacks had passed, we formulated a plan. Our kind friend suggested a shared office space, locked each night and within a secure building. On the first day there, I did more work than I’ve done in weeks and my love for the job came flowing back.

I’m starting to get my life back on track. The routine of a 6.30am wake up call, complaining about cancelled/delayed trains and the ever-present debate over the office air-conditioning are a welcome change after such feelings of darkness and loneliness. All I can say is a huge thank you to Georgia and OSIT and roll on the opening of the office!

Alex (Technical Author)

I moved to London 4 years ago, with one of the main reasons for relocating being the vibrant work scene in The City. I enjoy being close to all of the amenities, bars, shops, pubs, parks, and being able to pop for a beer or two after work with colleagues or friends when it suited. Living in a leafy suburb, it wasn’t possible to experience this on a daily basis. Being isolated and cooped up all day in a flat meant the magic of London was disappearing for me.

Living in a small flat by myself and working from home meant that I had very little human contact throughout the day. This was causing anxiety about my job, as I was feeling increasingly cut off from the rest of the team. I was also finding it difficult to separate my living and working space, which ultimately led to me disliking where I resided.

Since moving into the office, I have been able to concentrate fully on my work, meaning I am more productive throughout the day. The appreciation for my flat has also increased, which in turn has made me look forward to returning home after a hard day’s work.

Furthermore, sharing an office with friends has meant the social side of life has picked up dramatically. Going out for lunches, picnics, walks, and drinks after work are a regular occurrence, this has all helped to improve the quality of life.

So, a massive thank you to Georgia and OSiT for allowing me to enjoy London again.

Mark (Marketing)

Like most Londoner’s, me and my wife were faced with the choice between property sizes and proximity to the city. We chose proximity as both our work and social circle revolves heavily around central London and we love it this way.

 Since lockdown and the permanent WFH mandate, it would be an understatement to say that our 1 bedroom flat has been totally unsuitable. Our jobs are demanding at the best of times and have been made that more of a struggle with the flurry of daily zoom calls, frequently clashing resulting in a makeshift desk becoming a permanent feature in our windowless hallway. Understandably, we did our part and followed government guidelines but feel now it is both safe and the right time to reintroduce some normality. Being back in the office (and gym) has been a breath of fresh air for both my productivity and mental wellbeing. I now enjoy coming home and being able to relax, separating it from the stresses of work.

 The flexibility of being able to do the odd day working from home can be beneficial occasional; however, I think calls to make this permanent is impractical and inconsiderate of other’s circumstances. Let’s also not forget those less privileged who do not have the luxury of being able to WFH now facing the loss of their jobs from a stalled hospitality sector in the city.

With all of this said, should companies who are making the decision to not open their offices until late 2020 /2021 be considering flex space for those in the same positions we have found ourselves in? Are there options for the 29% of people who cited feeling lonely working from home?

I for one am loving being back in the office and would be delighted to provide short term, affordable, safe, flex-space to anyone wanting to return to the office!