How remote and hybrid work impact mental health

It’s no secret that the pandemic had a lasting and profound impact on the workplace. Organizations are still adapting to a world in which employees no longer want to do the traditional 9-to-5 workday that requires a commute and offers little time to take mental breaks or lunch.

Workplaces are also rethinking their approaches to recruitment and training, as they have had to become more flexible and adaptable.

Ragan spoke with Jim Barnett, CEO of Wisq, a platform designed for the social connection needs of employees, about the ever-evolving workplace, its benefits and how mental health also ties into the new normal.

“What a lot of leaders are missing today is that employees’ mindsets have fundamentally shifted and it’s not that they want to be at home because they want to work less hard or don’t care about their jobs,” Barnett said. “They’ve discovered two significant underlying things that they don’t want to give up: balance and autonomy.”

The beauty of hybrid work

Barnett explains that autonomy drives satisfaction and happiness in life and at work, and employees have realized that more autonomy also brings more balance.