(PR in) HR Pulse | HR News Round-up: 22nd – 28th May 2023

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

How a ‘work buddy’ aka ‘body double’ can increase productivity

In recent years, working in the presence of another person or ‘body doubling’ has become increasingly popular with many content creators livestreaming or posting recorded videos of themselves studying, working and/or completing domestic tasks. 

The technique works by having another person work alongside you regardless of whether you’re working on the same task, aiding accountability and focus. It has recently been adopted by neurotypicals, and indeed, ‘body doubling’ is a technique originally used by people diagnosed with ADHD to support them when completing tasks without becoming overly distracted. 

When introduced into the workplace - whether people work together or remotely - it can be a great motivation, productivity and engagement tactic at little to no cost.

The technique can also assist colleagues to connect and/or build relationships whether they’re in-office or working remotely via platforms such as Zoom. They can choose how interactive they are with each other, which could be particularly useful for remote workers who are dealing with social isolation. 

Having a work partner they’re comfortable with can also allow them to decompress mentally when struggling with a task, overwhelmed and/or stressed.

‘Body doubling’ is particularly helpful for neurodivergent employees as it helps them re-focus on tasks after being distracted without highlighting and/or comparing their workflow differences to that of neurotypical employees.

There are also apps such as Flown for those that are interested in ‘body doubling’ but don’t want to or aren’t able to find a work partner.

Source: HR Zone and WorkLife.

Return-to-office objectives have increased employee anxiety levels 

A new study from Showpad has revealed increased levels of workplace anxiety in more than two-thirds (69%) of UK employees since returning to the office. 

Half (50%) of the 1001 employees surveyed said that their general mental health has worsened since the lockdowns and more than a third (37%) claim they are having a difficult time adjusting to real-life in-office interactions, especially when attending or presenting meetings. 

The study also revealed that almost half (47%) of the respondents have called in sick for c5 days due to anxiety-related issues and more than half (54%) have experienced a panic attack due to work.

Indeed, Health Assured has recorded a 116% increase in the amount of anxiety-related calls to their helpline in the past 3 years.

Kelli Koschmann, Chief People Officer at Showpad, has called the situation a crisis and urges employers to communicate through an open workplace culture and support managers with training.

The Showpad research also found that the majority (76%) of employees who have taken time off due to anxiety or mental health-related issues in the past year didn’t share their reasons with employers. Almost a third (32%) of the respondents thought that they would be judged for their health conditions and/or it would be held against them in future.

Source: The HR Director and People Management.