A pharmacy chain in Sweden has started running a trial across its locations with a simple aim: can a few minutes a day of free time help reduce loneliness? Sweden’s government recently commissioned a large social study about loneliness across the country, and what it found was unsettling — 8% of adults don’t have a single close friend. The Swedish pharmacy chain Apotek Hjärtat is allowing its workers to take 15 minutes a day — or 1 hour a month — to walk away from their jobs and make a phone call, plan an event, step out to meet someone in person, or just have a chat with co-workers. Any activity that promotes friendship is permitted under the “Friend Care” policy. In fact, the company will give employees $100 a year for the task. The idea for the Friend Care trial came following another initiative that trained pharmacists to recognize loneliness among its clientele. The pharmacy instructed its staff to ask a series of questions designed to help people — particularly seniors and those suffering from social isolation — to come out of their shell. The Swedish culture promotes not disturbing others, so its citizens have a hard time breaking the ice. So far, the “Friend Care” program has made a big difference, making people feel like they have someone to talk to and enriching their lives.
