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The employment service company Barona has introduced an app called Frendie, which allows young employees to find friends from among their colleagues to accompany them for a run or to a movie, for example, says Janne Lindfors, Barona’s EVP.
The beginning of your career is one of the greatest culmination points in life. A lot typically happens at this stage: the completion of studies, change of jobs, relocating to another city, or changes in human relationships.
For Barona, young employees are an important target group, and we want to support their coping.
According to our surveys, 17 per cent of our employees have experienced loneliness during the past year. This can be considered a high figure, given the fact that these people have jobs and routines in their everyday lives.
During the coronavirus pandemic, interaction at the workplace decreased significantly, and return to the former office culture is unlikely. As a result, fewer new friendships are formed at the workplace.
Young people have said that they would like to find ways to ease loneliness in the workplace. This is one reason why we are piloting the Frendie mobile app. It allows colleagues to establish contacts regardless of their shift or position.
Friendie is a bit like Tinder, but instead of finding a partner, it aims at finding friends to accompany you for a run, coffee or a movie, for example. With the app, you can get peer support, spar and chat with colleagues, but official work matters are handled on other platforms.
The app is still at early stages, but our employees have been happy that we offer such a service. Hundreds of people have been able to get to know each other through Friendie.
Of course, a mobile app doesn’t solve loneliness altogether, but is one way to connect people.
Many young employees end up in occupational health care, even though the best medicine for a person suffering from loneliness, for example, could be the company of other people.
At Barona, we have our own well-being team that employees can contact if they need help and support.
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