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Workplace 2020 – ironically, just as we started going into

lockdown,’ says Sir Cary.
THE KNOWLEDGE INTERVIEW
‘The evidence was that people wanted to
wellbeing – work more flexibly but were frightened to

because it might indicate to their employer
that they were less committed. But if they were

today and allowed to work flexible hours and we could
measure it, the evidence globally showed they
tended to be more productive and much more
job satisfied, with fewer sickness days.’

tomorrow Changing landscape
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic changed
the workplace landscape and showed that
remote working really was a viable and
We speak to Sir Cary Cooper about how productive option for many people. However,
with it have come other challenges.
OSH professionals can positively infl uence
‘I was really disturbed during the
wellbeing in the post-pandemic workplace. pandemic when authorities said we had to
post-pandemic workplace.
pandemic when authorities said we had to
keep our social distance. They should have
keep our social distance. They should have
said physical distance, not social distance,
said physical distance, not social distance,
D
S
WORDS MATT LAMY Y because social connectedness is a really
TT LAM
MA
because social connectedness is a really
psychologically important part of why we
psychologically important part of why we
o
er
t the age of 83, Sir Cary Cooper
op
A shows no sign of slowing down.
down.
He’s currently 50th
anniversary professor of
organisational psychology and health at the
t the
Alliance Manchester Business School,
air of
president of the Institute of Welfare, chair of
the National Forum for Health and
Wellbeing at Work, and immediate past
president of the CIPD. He is the author or
or
han
editor of an ever-growing list of more than
250 books. He was awarded a CBE by the late
e late
onal
Queen for his contributions to occupational
health (OH), and then received a knighthood
hood
es. He
for his contribution to the social sciences. He
is an honorary fellow of IOSH.
For all his talents, though, Sir Cary would
ould
never claim to be a prophet. However,
his recent publishing history might
suggest otherwise.
ected
‘Before the pandemic occurred, I collected

ing

the scientific evidence for flexible working
lars
in an edited book of research from scholars
ning
all over the world [Flexible Work: Designing
Our Healthier Future Lives, co-edited with
ith
early
Sarah Norgate]. That was published in early
12 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | IOSHMAGAZINE.COM
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