We all live the best and the worst times of capitalism. The remote work business model has allowed top talent to work anywhere in the world from the comfort of their living room. The cost of employment was cut in half or more, and the exuberant amount of job opportunities created a highly competitive environment. All this increased the quality of both job offers and aspiring candidates.
But, it’s not all roses and rainbows, neither for the employers nor the employees.
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, America was facing mental health challenges that were fueled, in part, by an epidemic of loneliness that continues today. It impacts many people of all ages and all demographic groups across the world and is particularly problematic among workers.
The effects of loneliness on productivity
“Home office” does sound compelling until you learn that developed countries like UK and Japan were forced to open a Ministry of loneliness to ease the negative effects of the new normal. Loneliness costs UK employers alone 2.5 billion pounds annually due to its impact on well-being, health, and productivity.
The remote work business model actively excludes direct contact and interaction. People often go for days and weeks without seeing a familiar face in person. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize the devastating effects of loneliness on productivity. Sad people simply work less and don’t come up with new ideas and solutions.
Economic shift
While governments and policymakers are reacting inertly to the new developments, businesses are recognizing the change in the environment and customer behavior, and are quickly adapting. As Millennials and Gen Z become the driving force of the economy, appreciation for socially-responsible business practices continues to increase.
If you take one look at this Nielsen poll from 2018, the trends are obvious. 85% of Millennials and 80% of Gen Z rank the environment at the top of their list when deciding which companies they will engage with. This has forced businesses to think about their impact on society. Entrepreneurs are now focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility more than ever.
Social Friday tackles loneliness
It’s time to stimulate and drive togetherness through collaboration and partnership. Is there a better way of making connections and networks between people from all fabrics of society, than sharing an idea for a better future and actively working together to achieve it?
This is our core belief and our mission. Social Friday is more than an initiative. It is a match-making platform where businesses, organizations, and student volunteers connect and join forces to make a positive impact on society through socially responsible activities.
And, where there is work, there is always a collaboration, partnership, and friendship.
How does it work?
Friday is universally the least productive day of the week, even in developed countries. An article in Daily Mail, reporting about a survey by British Airways, claims that workers switch off for the weekend at 2.39 pm on Friday.
We think it’s time to challenge the status quo of the unproductive time and to transform our society. Our idea is to activate companies, organizations, and students to organize themselves and dedicate four Friday afternoons every year to volunteering.
We use that unproductive time to spend Fridays in a more meaningful way, to engage with our community, tackle social issues, and make a difference in society. Over the past years, the Social Friday experience has proven that these activities inevitably create togetherness among people.
On Social Friday events, companies, organizations, and students team up to work together, across the world, at the same time. The global nature of this happening creates another benefit for society – it raises awareness about social issues.
Why four times?
There are three important factors that shape our mission: giving behavior, people’s psychology, and the business cycle.
Did you know that more than 30% of giving happens in December? The community needs support throughout the whole year, not just before the holiday season. When we commit to four dates throughout the year, we aim to transform the corporate pattern, from quarterly reports of financial performance to a cycle of generosity and good deeds.
We do it four times every year because we believe that when we commit to doing good deeds and repeat them again and again, it turns into our habit. It turns into a lifestyle.
What now?
At the next Social Friday event happening on September 30th, companies, organizations, and student volunteers will work together and experience the benefits of Social Friday.
Now it’s time to get ready for the next event. It’s time to connect, act and impact. Start early by creating a partnership and joining forces. See for yourself how collaboration for a local social cause can affect you, your team, your company or organization, and society as a whole.
Now it’s time to reinvent Fridays.