Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
Non-verbal communication
How to build trust
March/April 2023 issue

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
    • Member accolades
    • Member tributes
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Achieving Fellowship
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Back to basics
    • Book club
    • Infographics
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Videos
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
      • Achieving Fellowship
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • Topics
  • Safety
  • Risk management
  • Lone workers

Boost your virtual workforce by harnessing digital humanity

Open-access content Thursday 9th April 2020
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 2 years old.
Web video

iStock

There have always been – and always will be – those concerned about the degradation of human communication caused by every technological advancement. From the first email services to online banking and GP appointment booking, society feared that digitalisation would lead to the decline of personal interaction. However, in such dark and unusual times as those of 2020, that 'technifear' has almost vanished overnight because, right now, it is the digital touch that is helping the isolated individual feel human again.

Globally, the spread of COVID-19 has resulted in national quarantines, community lockdowns and self-isolation. Families find themselves disconnected, the elderly and vulnerable isolated and workers around the world face new challenges not previously considered – such as key workers' risk exposure and corporate workers’ solitary confinements.

During these times, we discover how much of our lives we have taken for granted until now. The quick trip to the shops for a pint of milk, the daily coffee break and surrounding office chatter, the hug from a friend after a bad day or the holiday getaway planned months in advance. All of a sudden, all we have are the four walls of our household and a digital connection.

But now, that digital connection provides a portal to the outside world – whether that be shopping, socialising or discovering a whole new online community of shared interests.

Over the last few weeks, virtual kinships have been connecting strangers around the world through common interests. We are discovering new networks, new fellowships and expanding our social circles through digital facilitation.

After years of fearing digital dehumanisation, COVID-19 has caused our lives to become increasingly reliant on technological communication

The lone Cîroc dancer missing her weekly dance group now finds herself twirling at home, alongside thousands of other dancers in a virtual dance-off. The busy working parents juggling childcare and remote working listen to famous actors sharing stories with their children through live streaming storytime sessions. The captive gym fans log in to morning workouts led by their local gym instructors or even famous sports personalities. Our physical world may have become smaller but our digital one just keeps opening more doors – or, rather, windows.

Right now, we are not even limited to shared interest, just shared humanity. From the singing streets of Italy through to the grateful applause for the NHS in the UK, these huge movements have not required an army of event planners – nor were the RSVPs collected beforehand. They simply required one digital message to travel out into the ether. The result has been the connection of millions of lives in a singular moment, with no other agenda than to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Apply the same value to your virtual workforce. For those who have never worked remotely before, the world has become incredibly insular. Picking up the phone, sending a message or chatting over virtual platforms can feel like a bigger task than just leaning over to a colleague with a quick question. Break down these barriers and use technology to awaken human unity.

Start by turning on your camera for that conference call – let others see your face, even if you are not looking your best. Host virtual tea breaks where you just talk. Talk about your current view, introduce your dog to the camera, display your favorite mug – remind others of you. Not your job role. Not your profile picture. Not that latest client win. Share your essence and remind those working alongside you of that easy communication we all once took for granted.

After years of fearing digital dehumanisation, COVID-19 has caused our lives to become increasingly reliant on technological communication. We are living through history right now. Our ways of communicating, working and connecting have changed forever. Our work now is to ensure we bring everyone with us. From the grandparents starting out on video calls, to the colleagues hesitant in asking the question, we need to ensure not only that everyone has a voice but that they can also hear one. Yes, we are all in isolation. But, thanks to technology, we do not need to be isolated.

Nic Girvan is global head of digital training at diversity and inclusion training consultancy PDT Global

You may also be interested in...

Lone worker guide updated

 Working alone guidance updated

Friday 17th April 2020
The UK Health and Safety Executive’s guidance INDG73 on the risks of lone working has been updated.
Open-access content
Home office

 Coronavirus: how to support homeworkers

Thursday 19th March 2020
Fresh guidance from the HSE on protecting remote workers during the pandemic
Open-access content

 New lone worker safety charter

Tuesday 19th November 2019
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is calling on employers to sign up to its new charter to help keep lone working employees safer.
Open-access content
Image credit: web_traffic-warden_iStock-139960986.

 Union launches guide to protect gig economy workers

Friday 13th September 2019
The public service union Unison has published a new guide for its health and safety representatives to explain how the gig economy has affected its members and what support they can provide.
Open-access content

 Out of sight is not out of mind

Wednesday 28th August 2019
Organisations that do not educate managers on the potential hazards, legal responsibilities and business benefits of effectively managing the safety and health of lone workers can leave these employees vulnerable to harm, isolation and potential violence
Open-access content
Image credit: HSE

 Solar panel co’s £40k fine over worker’s 4 m skylight plunge

Monday 12th August 2019
A company that installs solar panels has been fined £40,000 after a worker fell through an unprotected skylight during an installation on a farm workshop in East Sussex.
Open-access content

Latest from Lone workers

web-Eolic-turbines-for-wind-power-iStock-1255591812

 Wind farm firms fined almost £900,000 over security guard’s death

Thursday 25th November 2021
The parent company of a contractor that was building a wind farm in Scotland and a security firm that employed staff to guard the remote site have admitted safety breaches after a security guard was trapped in snow for four and half hours and later died from hypothermia.
Open-access content
web_woman-look-out-of-office-window_credit_iStock-637920798

 How COVID-19 increased workplace loneliness

Thursday 11th November 2021
Firms restructured workforces and management processes during the pandemic, but did it come at the cost of isolating their staff members?
Open-access content
web_nursing-home_credit_iStock-859856574

 Care provider fined £20,000 after employee was raped

Friday 24th September 2021
A care company that provides housing support services for vulnerable adults and children has been fined £20,000 after one of its employees was raped by a service user, despite concerns being raised about this particular service user for more that 25 years.
Open-access content
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Regional Health, Safety and Environment Advisor

Nottingham
£35000 - £45000 per annum + Excellent Benefits
Reference
5452949

HSQE Manager

St Albans
£60-£70K Per annum + benefits including car.
Reference
5452906

Environmental Manager

Lancaster
£50000 - £55000 per annum, Benefits: + car allowance
Reference
5452947
See all jobs »

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

© 2023 IOSH • IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites

ioshmagazine.com and IOSH Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ