Loneliness in the workplace is more common than you may think. One in 5 employees report feeling lonely, according to Gallup — especially those younger than age 35. Fully remote workers are also more likely to say they are lonely compared to those who work fully onsite or follow a hybrid schedule. Many employees don’t openly express their feelings, making it difficult for leaders to know there’s a problem.
Would a return-to-work mandate solve the issue? Not necessarily, according to insights from Great Place To Work. Addressing loneliness requires more than simply bringing people together and assuming they’ll bond throughout the workday.
Instead of adopting a universal approach, try a few other ways to reduce loneliness at work. Ted Kitterman, a content manager for Great Place To Work, outlined some ideas in a blog post. We share his findings in this issue of PromoPro Daily.
1. Begin with a baseline. First, you need to know how your team is doing. Survey them and ensure confidentiality. Make sure they know why you’re sending the survey and what you plan to do with the results.
2. Look for the reasons for loneliness. People who feel lonely at work don’t all look the same. However, Kitterman says leaders should expect to find core elements in their workplace culture that play a prominent role in how people feel. For example, employees may not have time for creative thinking or to grab a quick coffee with a co-worker. This signals that there’s no slack in the system and they’re expected to connect with others while also being productive every second of the day.
3. Emphasize connections. Kitterman suggests making building bridges part of employees’ performance reviews. Most companies don’t prioritize time spent connecting with co-workers. When leaders say this time is valuable and worthwhile, it encourages relationship-building.
4. Plan more social events. Give people opportunities to get to know each other socially. There’s no one kind of social event that dramatically tips the scales, Kitterman says, but it’s smart to regularly offer them.
5. Offer various employee groups or programs. Employee resource groups are a great way to make people feel like they belong. Kitterman says they’re especially helpful for new hires and underrepresented groups.
Consider how loneliness might be impacting your team members. It isn’t just limited to younger or remote workers. Start by asking your team how they’re doing and then truly listen to their responses. You might also want to invest in occasional social opportunities or offer different employee groups. By addressing loneliness, you can help your team members thrive both personally and professionally.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Ted Kitterman is a content manager for Great Place To Work, a global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviors.
