The Loneliness Epidemic in the Workplace

I went to New York City for the first time in September. The picture in the post is a memory of the trip. Big Deal? Who cares? Been there, done that…all possible responses to this introduction to the post. I promise, I have a point.  I recently listened to a great book and like many of the books I didn’t know I needed, it has me thinking about my community, about how isolated we can be and about the kinds of self-care needed to address those feelings.

Vivek Murthy wrote a thought provoking book on loneliness, called Together. I was interested, personally, in the concepts presented as I navigate being a new empty nester in a community where I’ve mostly been present as a parent. I quickly was pulled out of that reverie into the impact on those in the workplace. In HR we focus on creating workplaces that allow the whole employee to show up at work. We create wellness programming to help employees be healthy versions of themselves. But, do we offer solutions for one of the most harmful impacts on employees’ overall wellbeing? Read on to hear why you must address loneliness in the workplace.

Did you know that feelings associated with loneliness can have the same negative impact on your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? Being obese is healthier than being lonely. As employers, you have an opportunity to address the loneliness epidemic by creating and supporting moments of connection. But first, what does loneliness look and feel like? 

Matthew Shaer, from the New York Times describes the feeling of loneliness, “Loneliness is a compound or multidimensional emotion: It contains elements of sadness and anxiety, fear and heartache.” Additionally, “Millions of Americans are lonely. They feel sad, mad and stuck. They’re alienated from their communities and angry at their predicament, and they don’t feel that they have many options to improve their lives. “

The solution to the loneliness epidemic, according to Nicholas Kristof in his September 6, 2023 article in the New York Times, is not complicated. He proposes simple things like eating meals together, holding parties and volunteering to help one another out. These things can happen in the workplace, either formally or more organically as employees connect. His findings are in line with guidance from the Surgeon General. The Surgeon General’s report stresses that “supportive and inclusive relationships at work are associated with employee job satisfaction, creativity, competence, and better job performance.” Connection at work prevents stress and burnout and can even be linked to fewer missed days of work after injury or illness. Matthew Shaer continues,

“But friendship can help fix each of those problems. With fellowship comes joy. With connection comes opportunity. There are few higher and better callings than to forge a bond with a person and provide a place where they belong.

The opportunity to positively impact the loneliness epidemic doesn’t have to be an expensive investment for employers. With building moments of connection in mind, consider engagement surveys, affinity groups and sponsored work day events designed to bring people together, provide opportunities to connect and to get a break from life stressors for moments of joy and fun. 

I struggle with bouts of loneliness and work hard to make distinctions between being alone and being lonely. The picture in this post is one from my New York trip, a salad I wanted to recreate at home. It was my first full day in New York City, my first time visiting a city I anticipated would overwhelm me. One of my high school best friends, Emily, invited me to join her on a brief trip. We stayed in Greenwich Village, did a mini unofficial foodie tour, saw some sights, took in a Broadway show and attended one of the last concerts of an epic band. The salad, a panzanella – a savory mixture of herbs, vegetables and bread croutons – was served at a cozy cafe, Jeffrey’s Grocery. Sitting outside, enjoying the sun on our skin, the uninterrupted time to talk, the change of scenery from our shared midwest roots — felt indulgent and rare. I said yes to the trip because of the book, Together. I learned that sometimes all the justification I need is to say yes to connection, an escape from life’s stressors and time to savor the joy, fun and the power of moments. Now home, this picture is a poignant reminder to celebrate my friendships, to capture moments, to recharge, and to remind myself of my people, my community–especially when I feel the most lonely.

If you want help exploring creating joy, fun, powerful moments, and solutions to the loneliness epidemic in the workplace, please reach out. Together, we can find opportunities to create connection.