Employee disconnection and loneliness are impacting productivity and creativity.
The “Loneliness in the Workplace” study aimed to understand how different work environments impact loneliness levels by beginning with the overarching question: “How do different work environments (remote, hybrid, in-person) impact the level of loneliness and human connection experienced by working adults?”
Why Study Loneliness In The Workplace
My last words before walking into Thatcher Pool on the west side of Indianapolis in January 2020 were to my daughter, “I’m here. I’m afraid to go in. I want to learn more about kayaking, but I also want to make friends.” She laughed, wished me good luck, and reminded me that making new friends would be hard for a 40-something-year-old. 😒😒
The week before, I had Googled “where to take kayaking classes” and found Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club’s website featuring pool sessions. My theory was to find people who do the kinds of things I like to do and use the shared interest to build friendships. That was four years ago, and I have built some strong bonds with my fellow paddlers.
By the time I realized I was lonely, I had gained over 50 pounds, felt sad most days, and when I wasn’t sad, I was angry. I had spent 18 years in large corporations where I worked on various teams and had friends from the East Coast to the West Coast. Though I had worked from home my entire career, I traveled extensively and rarely stayed home, alone, for weeks. Additionally, my children were still living at home. However, by the end of 2018, my son was in college, my daughter was doing her own thing in high school, and I had hung out my shingle as a one-man-band consulting firm. My social connection circle got smaller until it was almost non-existent.
Creating Connection Becomes A Passion
The journey to understanding the complexities of loneliness began with these experiences. I immersed myself in various activities to combat this feeling, seeking new social interactions and improving my physical health. As I was making progress with the kayak club, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted my progress. Social distancing and lockdowns exacerbated my loneliness, a feeling echoed by millions of Americans during this period. This personal struggle ignited a deep interest in understanding loneliness.
By 2021, I joined as many kayaking trips as possible to enhance my skills and deepen my new friendships. In 2022, I began my health journey, which led me to walk the Camino De Santiago in Spain, where I also focused on meeting new people with shared interests. Then, in 2023, I took comedy writing classes to expand my network and social circle.
Additionally, I began reading studies and books about loneliness to guide my recovery but, then when the 2023 report by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” highlighted the severe health impacts of loneliness, likening its effects to smoking 15 cigarettes a day and increasing the risk of premature death by 26%​​, (Murthy D. V., 2023) I realized this was a societal issue, not just a Lauralee issue.
This discovery reinforced my determination to explore the dynamics of loneliness within the workforce. I aim to uncover whether one’s work environment influences the level of loneliness experienced. More importantly, I want to inspire others to create a culture of connection.
Loneliness Vs. Isolation
Isolation is not having contact with others. However, loneliness is the feeling of distress when there’s a gap between one’s desired social connection or relationship and the actual social connection.
In other words, it’s the disconnect between what we hope our relationship is with our spouse, children, friends, family, or work colleagues and the way our relationship actually is. Dr. Vivek Murthy writes in the book Together:
“Intimate, or emotional, loneliness is the longing for a close confidante or intimate partner—someone with whom you share a deep mutual bond of affection and trust. Relational, or social, loneliness is the yearning for quality friendships and social companionship and support. Collective loneliness is the hunger for a network or community of people who share your sense of purpose and interests. Together, these three dimensions reflect the full range of high-quality social connections humans need to thrive. The lack of relationships in any of these dimensions can make us lonely, which helps to explain why we may have a supportive marriage yet still feel lonely for friends and community.”
Loneliness: Health and Productivity Impact
Loneliness has been recognized as a significant public health issue. Historically, social connections have been integral to human survival. In our hunter-gatherer days, being alone increased your chances of being eaten by a sabretooth tiger. In contemporary society, however, there has been a marked decline in social interactions, driven by various factors, including technological advancements, polarizing politics, cultural shifts in clubs or association memberships, changes in family structures, and increased mobility for work.
The impact of loneliness extends beyond emotional distress; it has substantial implications for physical health. Research indicates that loneliness can lead to a range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, depression, and cognitive decline. Moreover, lonely individuals are at a higher risk of premature mortality. The physiological mechanisms behind these health outcomes are complex, involving stress responses, immune function, and behavioral changes that negatively affect health.
In the modern workforce, where the boundaries between work and personal life are increasingly blurred, the issue of loneliness has emerged as a concern. Productivity in the workplace is also adversely affected by loneliness. Employees who feel isolated are more likely to experience burnout, have lower job satisfaction, and exhibit reduced performance. The lack of social support at work can increase absenteeism and turnover, further impacting organizational efficiency and morale. The Surgeon General’s report underscores the need to address loneliness for individual well-being and communities’ broader economic and social health​​. (Murthy D. V., 2023)
Where Has Social Connection Gone?
While remote work provides flexibility, it can lead to feelings of isolation due to the lack of face-to-face interactions. These interactions go beyond meetings to include “water cooler talk”; these micro-moments of conversations can be a massive boost in our social connection barometer. In contrast, traditional in-person work environments offer more opportunities for social interaction but may not accommodate the flexibility some employees need. Hybrid models attempt to balance these aspects but may present challenges in maintaining consistent social connections. The critical question is: How do these different work environments impact the level of loneliness and human connection experienced by working adults?
Highlights Of Research Results
Key findings from Stratavize Consulting Inc. and Lauralee Hites’ research, Loneliness In The Workplace Research, highlighted significant differences in loneliness levels across different work environments. Remote workers reported the highest levels of loneliness, with 68% experiencing some degree of loneliness compared to 51% of in-office workers. Hybrid workers showed varying levels of loneliness depending on the proportion of remote work. The data revealed that social satisfaction and a sense of community were generally lower among remote workers, with only 47% of remote employees expressing satisfaction with their social contact levels compared to higher percentages in other work settings.
The study also found that while 57% of respondents felt supported by peers and supervisors when under stress, this support was less for remote workers, with only 41% feeling supported. Furthermore, 47% of respondents usually felt their colleagues understood their values and beliefs, with in-office workers reporting higher levels of understanding. Despite the prevalence of loneliness, 76% of respondents self-reported that loneliness rarely or never interfered with their job performance. Managers or supervisors were not a subset of this research to validate or compare how they measure job performance in different work environments.
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Reducing Loneliness In The Workplace
The study emphasizes the importance of social connections in the workplace and the need for targeted interventions to address loneliness, particularly among remote workers. Recommendations to mitigate the adverse effects of loneliness on employee well-being and productivity include fostering stronger social connections within remote and hybrid work settings, enhancing support systems, and promoting a culture of understanding and community.
The study demonstrates that remote and hybrid work models offer flexibility and convenience but also present challenges in maintaining social connections and mitigating loneliness. Addressing these challenges requires a proactive approach from employers and community members to ensure all employees feel connected and supported regardless of their work environment. By prioritizing your organization’s People Strategy through human connection, we can enhance employee well-being, boost productivity, and create more resilient and cohesive communities.
This research highlights the need for continued exploration into the dynamics of workplace social connections and the development of innovative strategies to foster a sense of belonging and community in an increasingly remote and hybrid working world.
Access The Report
For employers, the findings underscore the importance of fostering social connections and providing robust support systems for remote and hybrid workers. Communities and policymakers should also take note of these dynamics as they have broader implications for public health and economic productivity. Loneliness affects individual well-being and has significant financial costs, including increased healthcare utilization and decreased workplace productivity. To learn more download the report.
About the Author
Lauralee Hites is the CEO and a Sr. Organization Consultant at Stratavize Consulting Inc. She’s an award-winning writer with over 20 years of consulting experience. You can find her on LinkedIN. Lauralee Hites began her career in Corporate America with Accenture, Microsoft, and Wells Fargo. She has evolved into a speaker, facilitator, and consultant driven by a passion for elevating individuals and organizations.
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