Having the advantage of avoiding long commutes and staying in your cosy surroundings while working from home is nice, new research suggests that it is actually better for your mental health to return to the office. A recent study by Sapiens Labs recently found how strong workplace relationships and a sense of purpose is for  a human to function. This healthy dose of office culture and camaraderie can be missing in some remote work settings.

 

What does the study reveal? 

 

A US-based research group known as Sapiens Labs has done a study called "Work Culture & Mental Wellbeing" that aggregated data from 54,831 working individuals across 65 countries out of which 5,090 were from India. In carrying out this study, it has utilised the Mental Health Quotient which measures 47 aspects of mental health to determine overall well-being.

A significant finding was that the quality of relationships at work contributes to mental well-being. For example, people with excellent quality relationships with their co-workers and great job satisfaction demonstrated more desirable mental well-being. Those employees who were isolated or unfulfilled during work life were likely experiencing problems such as being often sad having low energy, or possibly having a general lack of enthusiasm.

 

India unique findings

 

In India, the study found that 13% of the respondents reported unmanageable workloads, slightly better than the global average of 16%. This, however, has still been a cause of some concern, especially now with recent tragedies such as the death of a 26-year-old employee of EY, allegedly due to excessive overwork. Debates about toxic work environments and the mental health problems confronted by employees in jobs that involve extreme pressure have created a buzz.

The human need for connection

 

Our relationships with people matter profoundly to our mental health and well-being, regardless of their nature and context, Sapiens Labs founder and neuroscientist Tara Thiagarajan said. “Our relationships with people matter profoundly to our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of their nature and context. Humans want to feel valued and included in whatever realm we are in,"

As the core of flexibility in remote work, this study still tries to find the essence of belonging and purposes most people discover in an office. In many ways, as the workplace continues to change and evolve, cultivating such relationships is paramount in maintaining mental well-being.