No chatty cubicle mates. No stinky office microwaves. No pants, if you don’t feel like wearing ‘em. Working from home always sounds great in theory…but we’re learning that it’s not so good for us in practice. It turns out we…actually need that meaningless interaction with colleagues? As more and more people telecommute or freelance, we’re starting to see the impact of workplace loneliness on our emotions, and some companies are seeing its results on their workers efficiency and calling them back in.
Why are we so quick to try to replace face-to-face interaction with emails and chat messages? And what happens to us when we do? And for those of us who don’t have an office to go back to, and never will, what can be done to stave off the inevitable isolation that comes with having nobody but a pet for company for much of the day? We asked someone who has experience both reporting and living the reality of the issue.
GUEST: Erica Lenti, freelance writer