Sixty percent of workers surveyed worry about the negative impact lockdown had on their mind and life longer term, according to new polling by exhibition organiser Hyve Group.
The study, with a Cambridge University academic, reveals the lasting impact of lockdowns on mental health and wellbeing, emphasising that now is the time to remedy these issues to improve wellbeing, restore pre-pandemic cognitive function and get back lost connections with in-person interactions
Polling highlights 54% of working professionals surveyed feel more socially anxious at work than they did pre-pandemic and only 18% say the pandemic has not changed the way they approach work.
Only 18% say remote meetings are more effective than in-person meetings.
Hyve Group partnered with Barbara Sahakian, professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge in England, to uncover the ways in which the pandemic has transformed our brains and how it has impacted our working lives.
Other results of the survey include:
- A quarter (25%) reported feeling more disengaged] with their work post-pandemic, within that 15% admit to ‘quiet quitting’ as a consequence of remote or hybrid working arrangements.
- 36% say they view work as less important to their life as a whole than they did pre-pandemic.
- 58% of respondents say they now socialise less than they did before the pandemic and 52% say they have experienced increased feelings of loneliness due to the pandemic.
Professor Sahakian’s report highlights the positive impact of returning to in-person professional events on mental health and wellbeing. She commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns had an immediate effect on our mental health, our cognition and our brains. As humans living in society, our brains develop to support social interactions and our social relationships play a vital role in our mental health. Now is the time to remedy these problems if we are to get back to full mental fitness and get maximum enjoyment for our home and work lives.
“A lack of social interaction can lead to problems of social cognition, mental wellbeing and brain fitness – it’s a case of ‘use it or lose it’. For employees and employers alike, we need a focus on identifying and facilitating moments that boost engagement. Our brains need social stimulation and returning to the office and attending networking events are not only beneficial for our mental health but may help to mitigate some of the longer-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.”
Building upon these insights, Hyve Group said it is striving to maximise the power of human connections by advocating for the significance of in-person interactions in a post-pandemic world.
“The pandemic has presented us with an opportunity to reassess our priorities and values, including the way we work,” said Mark Shashoua, CEO of Hyve Group. “While hybrid working has its advantages, we must not overlook the importance of genuine, tangible social interactions at work. People are most inspired when they come together, and we see all the time that there’s no competition with the power of meeting in real life.
“Since the end of lockdowns, we’ve seen a huge rise in the number of teams we have signing up for events. Recognising events can offer a hotbed of learning, networking, and knowledge sharing that’s valuable across levels, with an opportunity for teams to connect outside of a hybrid environment in a meaningful way an even greater draw.”
The Hyve team believes the effects on our mental health and wellbeing have been significant but they aren’t irreversible. Getting back together in person at work has real potential to rebuild lost connections and restore our mental health and wellbeing, they say. Shashoua adds: “Our hope is that this research will guide organisations in navigating the post-pandemic landscape, highlighting the importance for brain function of getting teams back together and inspiring them to build stronger, more resilient communities."
Hyve Group has recently been acquired by Heron Bidco Limited (a company controlled by funds advised by Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. and its affiliates).
*Hyve’s polling of 2,012 UK workers aged over 18 who work three or more days per week was conducted by Censuswide. Fieldwork ran from the 24 May 2023 to the 31 May 2023.
Read Professor Sahakian’s full report here:
