Why Employers Must Address the Workplace Loneliness Crisis

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We’ve heard a lot about how the transition to remote working increased people’s feelings of loneliness and isolation at work. Those feelings have been magnified for new hires on remote teams, who’ve often had to assimilate into their new role without ever meeting their colleagues or setting foot in an office.

But how does this widespread state of disconnection manifest itself in the workplace? To what extent is it affecting employees, including the loyalty they feel toward their employer and to each other? And what should companies do to reverse this worrying trend and create a culture where workers can enjoy more meaningful relationships with their colleagues?

To answer these questions, my company, Workplace Intelligence, partnered with Airspeed to survey 1,600 employees and C-Suite leaders at remote or hybrid organizations. The survey confirmed that at least 1 out of 3 workers feels “a great deal” or “somewhat” disconnected, alienated, isolated, or lonely at work.

The survey also revealed that many workers won’t be willing to tolerate this situation for much longer. In fact, 2 out of 3 executives predict their employees will quit for a job where they feel more connected to their colleagues. An alarming 3 out of 4 executives believe their staff would leave even if it meant making major sacrifices like taking a pay cut or accepting a part-time role with a lower salary and no benefits.

Despite all the advantages of remote working, it’s clear that some people are experiencing significant disadvantages as well. Fortunately, the study examined how businesses can right this ship and chart a new path forward for their remote teams. Below is a snapshot of the research findings — subscribe to my FREE Workplace Intelligence Insider newsletter to receive the full article, and download the study report to review the complete findings.

Most people know very little about their co-workers, and a lack of socialization could be to blame: Just 15% of employees say their colleagues know what their hobbies and interests are, and only 39% think their co-workers would care or notice if they quit their job. The likely culprit? Low levels of socialization, at least according to 72% of employees who say they aren’t able to socialize enough when they’re remote.

The outcomes of infrequent socialization go well beyond feelings of loneliness: 66% of executives believe their employees are seriously thinking about quitting for a job where they’d feel more connected to their teammates. In fact, the #1 reason remote workers say they’d quit is that they don’t feel connected to the company culture.

The path forward requires a strong tech stack and a more supportive culture: 68% of employees say the legacy technologies they use to connect are falling short and 60% aren’t using these technologies very often. Meanwhile, just 40% of companies offer a comprehensive technology platform for their staff.?

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