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The modern workplace is not just where we spend eight hours of our day and collect a paycheck at the end of the week. They are places where we find belonging, learn to work with a wide variety of people, and become cultural hubs where we often make deep connections with others.
Yet, workplace loneliness has become a significant issue in today’s digitally-driven world, especially as many workplaces make at-home or hybrid work the norm. According to a recent poll, one in five workers worldwide report feeling “lonely,” with fully remote workers reporting the highest levels of loneliness and hybrid workers falling shortly behind.
However, requiring people to return to the office is not the be-all and end-all solution to solving the loneliness problem. Companies must explore practical solutions that make sense in today’s working world, where 16% of jobs are 100% remote, even more offer flexible hybrid solutions, and even workers in the office report loneliness.
“The loneliness epidemic within the workplace may be one of the most overlooked issues with organizational culture today,” says Laurie Cure, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Innovative Connections. “By addressing the parts of the work environment that contribute to feelings of loneliness or isolation, business leaders can create better work cultures and stronger teams.”
Alone together
One may wonder how anyone could feel alone in the workplace, especially if they work in an environment surrounded by other employees. The workplace can be like any other social environment with unspoken rules, awkward interactions, and hidden hierarchies. Loneliness in the workplace can have a noticeable impact on the organization as a whole, contributing to increased absenteeism and turnover.
Several factors have contributed to the workplace loneliness issue beyond the uptick in remote and hybrid work. For one, many people may feel a lack of meaningful social connection with the people they work with, especially if there is a significant age gap or if a person is a newer employee among team members who have been with the company for a long time.
The quality of relationships also matters, whether employees are in-person or remote. Poor leadership can worsen isolation, especially if an employee feels singled out or struggles in their position.
Work demands can also create loneliness. If a person feels overworked in a high-demand role, it may leave little room for social connection in the workplace.
Different personality types can also contribute to loneliness in the workplace. When you have introverts working with extroverts, this mismatch can lead to difficulties in forming connections between team members.
“Workplace loneliness can arise from a multitude of factors. It’s not just about being physically alone, it’s about a failure of all employees to be seen and heard, providing opportunities for meaningful connection, and providing work/life balance so people are not too burned out to make those connections,” Dr. Cure offers.
Strong strategies to combat workplace loneliness
There are several ways organizational leaders can combat workplace loneliness. The strategies they employ will depend on the structure of their businesses and the type of employees they have — remote, hybrid, in-office, or a combination.
Resilient teams are the bedrock of any organization that hopes to forge strong connections between its employees, so they should have supportive leadership and clear goals that bring teams together. Leaders should encourage employees to share interests, communicate openly, and check in with one another throughout the work week.
Employees should also feel they are in an environment where they feel comfortable communicating and sharing thoughts, even if they are more introverted. Managers and other leaders should be empathetic and well-trained to create these welcoming environments.
Employees also need to be given opportunities to connect with one another outside of work-related activities. Team lunches or dinners, informal meetings, and get-togethers outside of work allow employees to let down their guard and connect with the people they work with.
Technology can also help combat loneliness, with programs like Slack or Zoom bringing remote and hybrid employees together with those in the office. Team leaders can create Slack channels for specific team groups or even fun side groups, such as channels for fans of a particular music artist or those who support the same sports team, which will help employees connect with team members with the same interests.
Lastly, business leaders need to support a culture of balance that doesn’t play into burnout. Employees who feel burnt out and exhausted by their jobs are not likely to be open to socializing or putting extra effort toward making meaningful connections with their coworkers.
Workplace loneliness can affect individual employee well-being and the entire organization’s productivity. From evolving work structures to introversion, there are many reasons why people may feel lonely at work. Business leaders can combat workplace loneliness and build environments that cultivate real connections by prioritizing workplace connection and weaving workable strategies into day-to-day operations.
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