7 Ways to Overcome Feelings of Work-from-Home Isolation

2 min read

October 07, 2024


Remote and hybrid work arrangements have become the norm for many professionals. While we’ve had time to adjust to the rhythms of working from home, feelings of isolation and disconnect from colleagues can still occasionally creep in.


Most of us have mastered the basics – setting up a dedicated workspace, establishing routines, and leveraging unified communications and collaboration (UCC) tools to maintain productivity at home. However, despite these strategies, the lack of spontaneous conversations and casual office banter can take a toll over time.


Roughly one-third of remote employees reported feeling isolated from their team at work, highlighting the importance of creating meaningful daily interactions. Workers experiencing prolonged loneliness are more likely to burn out, experience mental health challenges, and lose engagement with their jobs.


Employers and team leaders must prioritize the mental well-being of their remote workforce, recognizing that the sense of isolation experienced by their workforce can have a tangible impact on their productivity and satisfaction. Here are seven ways to overcome work-from-home loneliness and improve employee morale.


1. Use Team Collaboration Tools and Video


These tools can mirror the camaraderie of in-office culture. Video conferences, team text threads, direct messaging, and live online collaboration can help remote employees feel included in the day-to-day company activity. Changing up the mode of communication can help make conversations feel more spontaneous. Sometimes, a live phone call or online voice chat goes further than an email or text message when creating social bonds with colleagues.


2. Engage Outside of Scheduled Meetings


Finding time for casual conversation can be hard when your calendar is full of back-to-back appointments. However, encouraging employees to reach out whenever they need to talk—not just when scheduled for a call—can help them feel more like human beings and less like cogs in the company machine.


3. Provide Resources for Employee Well-Being


Access to support and prevention services and making efforts to remove the stigma around mental health is paramount. Ninety-two percent of workers said it’s essential for them to work for an organization that supports their mental health. Having these resources available is not enough; leaders need to ensure their team feels comfortable taking advantage of these benefits when needed.


4. Establish Goals and Check in with Employees


Setting objectives and taking pride in work accomplishments can increase workplace engagement, even if the workplace is a home office. Checking off a task, even if it’s something small, can boost serotonin. It feels realistic and satisfying. Including incremental goals can also create opportunities to celebrate wins together along the way to the finish line.


5. Make Room for Movement


Unlike their in-office colleagues, who might get a change of scenery when moving from their desks to conference rooms to the cafeteria, remote employees often feel chained to their computers and phones. Ensure employees have opportunities to stretch and move around throughout the day, taking advantage of multimodal forms of collaboration for on-the-go connectivity. If a call doesn’t require screen time, it could be turned into a “walking meeting” for a productive breath of fresh air.


6. Build in Breaks and Flex Time


Wall-to-wall meetings can be overwhelming for anyone and can prevent important tasks from being completed. This can be especially challenging for remote employees, who must be “on” in front of a screen all day. Having unstructured or flexible time in their calendar lets them focus on their job without interruption. It gives them a feeling of control over their schedule, improving satisfaction and lowering the chance of burnout.


7. Keep Everyone in the Loop in any Workspace


Make sure all workers have the same opportunities and tools no matter where they are, breaking down the barriers between remote and on-site situations. UCC features like meeting recording, persistent messaging, and document sharing mean everyone is up-to-date with important information, even if they’re not there in person.


Even with all our experience with remote and hybrid work today, it’s still vital to keep employees feeling connected and supported – no matter where they are. While everyone’s personal needs for social interaction may vary, these practical tips can help everyone feel more productive and engaged.


Mitel’s all-in-one collaboration platform offers web-based collaboration viewing and sharing, scheduled and ad-hoc conferencing, and one-to-one or one-to-many message broadcasting to banish work-from-home isolation and make remote employees feel like part of the team.


Want to discover more ways to empower your workforce with collaborate-from-anywhere communications tools? Contact us to learn how Mitel’s UCC solutions can benefit your remote, hybrid, and in-person employees.

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