Employee wellbeing | 'FOMU' - the new work term you need to know

Every so often a new term comes along that perfectly encapsulates the employee experience.

In 2019 the WHO (World Health Organisation) officially confirmed that ‘burnout’ was a medical condition, owing to the fact that the relatively new term was the most effective way of describing the effects of overwork. Similarly, ‘e-presenteeism’ is a term that, as lockdown has progressed and businesses have largely taken to remote working, you may have seen crop up time and time again in the media. The term describes the need to be constantly digitally available for your bosses – a relatable feeling for many professionals.

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Mental wellbeing | Can lockdown anxiety impact work focus?

However, a new term, reported by The Metro this week, may well be the next big work buzzword to accurately describe how millions of people are feeling worldwide. The term is ‘FOMU’. You may already understand the well-known acronym ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out), otherwise known as the anxiety around knowing that others are doing great things whilst you feel disconnected, however, ‘FOMU’ (fear of meeting up) describes almost completely the opposite.

As the pandemic has progressed and the infection rate has increased around the world, it has become somewhat habitual to avoid others. This is the case whilst shopping, likely equipped with a mask, protective gloves and hand sanitiser, and the feeling of deep-rooted anxiety you feel when bumping into an old friend for fear of standing too close is probably now instinctual.