Cisco has shared insights into ways agents can adapt to a hybrid working model post-COVID featuring expert commentary from a psychiatrist.
As nations emerge from crippling COVID lockdowns to navigate the return to office and the hybrid work model – with some workers being called back into the office permanently - Dr. Mira Zein, a Stanford University psychiatrist and Cisco mental health consultant, shared her thoughts on how teams, leaders and individuals can best manage that uncertainty and what businesses can do to create more equitable and empathetic work experiences.
She said: “In the emergency room at Stanford and in my practice, I’m seeing a huge increase of anxiety, depression, and rates of suicidal thoughts, particularly in the teen and young adult range. And with Cisco employees who are parents, there have been difficulties coping with home school. I think it speaks to the loss of boundaries. It’s been very hard for parents to balance taking care of kids full time as well as trying to work full time.”
This reflects recent news that according to a recruitment boss, periods of remote working ‘not healthy’ for younger staff.
Robert Walters said that “you cannot learn when you’re not next to someone, ideally your boss”.
“Zoom cannot do everything,” he added.
His words followed concerns from a number of business leaders who have suggested they expect in-office working to be the norm in future, but with more flexibility for remote working one or two days a week.
