How WFH Challenge Driving Family Focus!

While many felt the ‘work-from-home’ norm could be beneficial in terms of time and effort, it is actually taking a toll on the mental health of several people who find loneliness, lack of social interactions and pressures at home front impacting their wellbeing. Corporates are actively putting solutions in place:

Part 1

WFH disrupts the social nature of human beings

Other factors such as the fear of the unknown worsen the problem:

Pallab Mukherji believes that WFH goes against the social nature of a human being, and people tend to miss the camaraderie that they enjoy at office

When the office shifted to home with the pandemic raging, many felt they are safer in the initial stages as they could avoid the rigmarole of commute and peak hour rush and help in increasing job fulfilment. But that initial shine is dimming. Many studies indicate mental breakdowns are common and domestic clashes are rampant during the pandemic. Man being a social animal, working in isolation from the confines of homes can create loneliness and isolation, which can lead to deteriorating mental health.

This has now become a matter of concern for HR professionals and is haunting the familial ties. To what extent have the lockdown and WFH contributed to this situation?

Pallab Mukherji, Chief People Officer at Equitas Small Finance Bank, admits that mental health is a concern both at home and office. Though working from home seemed a lot safer and easier in its initial period when the pandemic kicked in, he says the cracks have now widened causing rampant burnouts and breakdowns. “WFH fundamentally changes the way the employee has ever worked in his/her life and any change is difficult. WFH goes against the social nature of a human being and people tend to miss the camaraderie that they can enjoy at office,” he explains.

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