Inclusivity is an essential component in any workplace. It allows employees to experience a shared sense of belonging, which, in turn, enables them to feel comfortable, confident and inspired. Unfortunately, the pandemic and remote working poses an immediate threat to inclusivity.
COVID-19 has led to a sweeping capsule environment – that is, living and working with the same people, in the same place, 24/7. This has fundamentally changed the way we approach work, and how we interact with our colleagues on a daily basis. These changes can lead to psychological risks that directly impact an organisation’s inclusivity.
One of the risks associated with remote working is dubbed ‘psychological closing.’ Due to a lack of stimuli, colleagues close themselves off from one another through less frequent and less rich communication. In extreme cases, this can lead to the development of cliques – an obvious threat to internal inclusivity.
