Swedish workers trial ‘friendship hour’ to combat loneliness

Staff at a major Swedish pharmacy chain are being given paid time off to spend with friends, as Sweden’s government calls on businesses to help play a role in tackling loneliness.

Yasmine Lindberg, 45, is one of 11 participants taking part in the pilot “friendcare” scheme for the pharmacy group Apotek Hjärtat.

She works shifts at the company’s outlet at a retail park in Kalmar, a small seaside city in southern Sweden.

“I’m really tired when I go home. I don’t have time or energy to meet my friends,” she explains, before restocking a shelf of paracetamol.

Yasmine spends a lot of her free time with her teenage children who live with her every other week. But she admits feeling “quite lonely” since separating from her partner four years ago, which led to fewer social invitations with couples in their network.

Now, thanks to the Apotek Hjärtat pilot scheme, which started in April, she’s granted 15 minutes a week, or an hour a month during working hours to focus on strengthening her friendships or making new connections.

She can use this allotted friendcare time to chat on the phone, make plans over text, or meet up with someone in person.

“I wanted to make it better for myself… like, kick myself in the back to do stuff,” says Yasmine.

“I feel happier. You can’t live through the internet like most people do these days.”