Are you just about to leave school, college or university and heading into the world of work as a Young Lone Worker? Starting a new job is a big deal for anyone. A bigger deal if it’s your first proper job, and an enormous deal when that job means working solo. No office, no desk buddies, no casual “How was your weekend?” chats. Maybe you’re being asked to work from home? Or have a lot of travelling out in the field doing your own thing. Although this could be mega exciting, let’s keep it real—it can feel weird, lonely, and unsafe at times. So, how is a young worker like yourself meant to figure it all out? Especially without the usual office environment to ease you in?
The Challenges of Being a Young Lone Worker, When You’re Just Starting Out
No Experience. If you’ve never worked in a regular office, it’s hard to know what’s expected. How often should you check in? Are emails too formal? How do you ask for help without feeling like a burden? It’s all a learning curve being a young lone worker. And sometimes it can feel like you must figure it out all by yourself.
Keeping Safe. In an office, if something goes wrong, someone will probably notice and call for help. When you’re working solo, it’s different. Whether you’re out on-site, travelling between jobs, or just working from home, no one is physically there to check in on you. It’s important to make sure there is a plan in place to monitor your safety.
Disconnected. When you don’t have an office full of people around you, it’s easy to feel out of the loop. No spontaneous or quick problem-solving chats in person. It’s great for focus, but not so great when you want a bit of social interaction or support.
Motivation. With no one watching, it’s tempting to take a loooooong break. Or, on the flip side, you might find yourself working all the time because there’s no one there to tell you to stop as they are aware of the burnout toll on your mental health.
Young Lone Worker Tips.
- Keep in Touch (Even If It’s Just a Quick Chat). Just because you’re working alone doesn’t mean you should feel alone. Set up regular check-ins with your team or manager, even if they’re informal. Use group chats, voice notes, or video calls to stay connected and feel like you’re part of a bigger team.
- Set a Daily Routine. Start at the same time each day, take proper breaks, and set a clear time to switch off. Otherwise, work can creep into your evenings, and before you know it, you’re replying to emails at midnight. If possible, create a workspace that is different from your living space.
- Look After Your Safety. It’s easy to overlook this, yet it is very important. More so when you’re working solo. You need a way to check in with someone, whether that’s by email, regular phone calls, or using a lone working app like MyTeamSafe. A fail-safe way to “check
- Stay Connected. Not having colleagues physically around means you don’t get that natural workplace learning experience. Find someone – a mentor, an experienced colleague, or even an online community who can give you advice, answer your questions, and help you feel supported.
- Don’t Forget to Socialise. Human connection is important, even if your job doesn’t require it daily. It might sound obvious, but when work doesn’t involve daily interaction, you have to be more intentional about planning to meet friends or at least chat with someone on the phone. Your organisation may already have it, if not, suggest it at the right time about setting up a “chat” group, which is separate to work chat. A place for some social communication during the day. … as long as it doesn‘t get out of hand.
Lone working can feel a bit strange at first, especially when you’re new to the working world. But it’s also an opportunity for more independence, flexibility, and a chance to build skills that some people don’t develop until much later in their careers. Remember: stay connected, look after yourself, and put safety first
Even though this blog was created for younger home workers, the points are just as relevant to anyone who works at home or remotely. If you need a simple way to ensure someone’s got your back while you work solo, MyTeamSafe® is an award-winning lone-worker App & proud supporter of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust – A great tool, so please ask your future employer to check us out!