Health And Social Issues News

Swedish Workers Test 'Friendship Hour' to Fight Loneliness

Swedish pharmacy chain Apotek Hjärtat is piloting a 'friendship hour' scheme, providing employees with paid time to strengthen social connections, as part of Sweden's broader efforts to combat loneliness, which is linked to health risks and societal costs. The initiative is supported by government strategies and has shown promising early results, sparking interest from other businesses and policymakers.