Are Your Employees Lonely?
According to a survey by Cigna, “More than half of US workers say they’re lonely, disrupting productivity.” Studies have shown that lonely workers come to work “feeling somewhere else;” and that is reflected in reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover. According to a survey of 7500 adults by Cigna, feelings of loneliness were more pronounced among younger workers, while Generation X and Baby Boomers said they experienced more severe mental health issues tied to loneliness, such as anxiety and depression. The introduction of AI into US workplaces is only adding to the loneliness epidemic.
What can managers do? Some possible solutions include the following:
Creating a better onboarding experience
Assigning a mentor or peer support
Work to create a workplace where people feel less isolated and more connected
See that managers play a key role in providing support
Leaders can empower their managers to advocate for and model work-life balance. For instance, lonely workers who felt their employer supports a healthy work-life balance were 10 times more likely to report vitality at work, per the survey. It also indicated that, in addition, managers can foster a culture of inclusion and belonging to help their team members feel less lonely. Employee resource groups, team-building activities and in-person or virtual breaks can encourage employees to strengthen connections through social interactions, the report found.
Managers can also build genuine relationships with their team members through empathic leadership. Workers who felt lonely but understood by their manager were more than twice as likely to report high vitality, compared to those who felt misunderstood.
