Clocks Go Back: Niki Fuchs in TWinFM

Have you noticed a difference since the clocks went back last weekend? To some, the change may seem insignificant but, for many of us, this can have an impact on our energy levels, productivity and wellbeing.

As the days start getting shorter, OSiT Managing Director Niki Fuchs shared her thoughts on navigating the wellbeing impacts of working from home, highlighting the importance of good lighting, which is associated with a range of mental and physical health impacts such as eye strain, headaches, fatigue, stress and anxiety – two feelings that we know have already been heightened for many by working at home.

Niki outlines why this time is an opportunity for employers and workspace providers to open up conversations around employee wellbeing. Already, people have faced the detrimental effects of lockdown remote working, as the winter months now create new challenges for our mental and physical health - including shorter days and more time spent indoors. In fact, in OSiT’s recent survey, 29% of people cited loneliness as one of the main disadvantages of continuous working from home, while 25% of workers reported an increase in anxiety. With 37% of respondents also unable to unplug from work at home, these feelings are only likely to be exacerbated over the winter period this year.

So, Niki argues that it is crucial that employers not only provide the flexibility that people need to navigate this winter period, but also access to safe, productive working environments that prioritise their health and wellbeing.

Read Niki’s thoughts in This Week in FM here.