Uses of Time

Last November 17, in the Auditorium of the College of Architects of Catalonia, the 2023 Civic Forum was held: "Committed citizens in the construction of social cohesion", organized by the Citizens' Agreement for an Inclusive Barcelona.

Olga Gibert, from ABD, represented the Network in this meeting framework where they talked about community, networks and the importance of links.

Measures of flexibility in working time, which allow people to adjust their schedules to their personal needs, can facilitate participation in social activities and the generation of social relationships outside the work environment. (volunteering, active participation in associations, etc.).

But at the same time, with the rise of telecommuting, many people spend long hours working from home without direct interaction with senior colleagues. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation as many everyday social interactions are missed.

The companies of the NUST Network are aware of the need to promote a culture of support, favor personal ties and create opportunities for social interactions within the same organization.

Loneliness is known to be a hugely important trigger of mental health problems.

Some of the measures that the companies in the Network have implemented to encourage communication, collaboration between people and help build an organizational culture that minimizes loneliness and promotes a healthier work environment are:

• Establish face-to-face working days: plan days when the whole team works from the office.

• Deliberately organize activities or events for this purpose in the same work environment (joint lunches, team activities, outings or other social events that encourage connection...).

• Encourage collaborative work: encourage projects and tasks that require collaboration between team members. This collaboration can lead to better understanding and closer relationships among team members.

• Implement virtual communication tools: use platforms for informal meetings, chats and other social interactions.

• Create interest groups: allows working people to be part of groups that match their interests (sports groups, or other activities that encourage interaction outside the work environment. 

• Provide flexible office spaces that facilitate informal interaction and collaboration.

• Foster an organizational culture that values ​​trust, transparency and mutual support.