Mental Health in the Workplace: How Loneliness at Work is Affecting Our Wellbeing
Recently, HR Review shared a concerning report indicating that a significant portion of UK employees are facing a heightened risk of mental health challenges due to feelings of loneliness at work. Loneliness, while not a mental health disorder on its own, is closely intertwined with poor mental health – one can worsen the other. It not only impacts our overall health and well-being but also has a profound effect on our professional engagement as well. This underscores the critical importance of prioritising mental health awareness in the workplace. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding loneliness often prevents individuals from seeking help or discussing their struggles openly for fear of judgement.
Who is likely to feel lonely at work?
While the initial assumption might be that feeling lonely is down to remote work, it’s well documented that people can feel loneliness even when they have others around them, so remote work isn’t necessarily a factor. In fact, according to the HR Review article, the real issue lies in the absence of meaningful connections in the workplace.
The Red Cross reports that changes in working location during Covid led to improved relationships for many. However, they also report that although working from home doesn’t make someone lonelier, office workers are nearly twice as likely to feel close to their colleagues.
Over 10% of employees frequently or consistently encounter feelings of loneliness in the workplace, and over 49% of UK adults admit to feeling lonely at varying frequencies, the need to address this issue in the workplace is crucial. They highlight the following groups that are more at risk of feeling this way:
- Disabled and those with long term health conditions
- Minority ethnic groups
- Senior managers
- Those aged under 40
The Psychological Impact of Loneliness
Loneliness can lead to a myriad of mental and physical health issues, profoundly impacting mental health in the workplace and beyond. The Campaign to End Loneliness highlights:
- Increased risk of early mortality
- Risk of poorer mental health (including depression)
- Loss of confidence
- Elevated blood pressure and acute stress responses
- Poorer sleep quality
- Mental distress (higher in those with chronic loneliness (60%) compared with those that don’t (15%))
Understanding these impacts underscores the importance of addressing loneliness and mental health issues within the workplace to foster a healthier, more productive environment.
Loneliness in the Work Environment
In the work environment, loneliness manifests in various impactful ways, significantly affecting employees and the organisational culture. Here’s a closer look at what The Campaign to End Loneliness emphasises that loneliness can:
- Lead to a dampening of younger peoples’ motivation to advance in their careers
- Result in poorer work performance
- When severe, cost an estimated £9,900 per person per year
- Cost UK employers £2.5 billion/yr
Employers play a crucial role in addressing workplace loneliness by fostering a supportive culture, encouraging social connections, and offering mental health resources.
Combating Loneliness at Work
The article in HR Review suggests that trust in relationships that is the biggest problem: “Workers under the age of 40 are 80 percent more likely to lack trusted workplace relationships compared to their older counterparts aged over 50. This lack of trusted relationships significantly contributes to feelings of isolation among employees, with those without trusted workplace connections being three and a half times more likely to experience loneliness.”
Both The Red Cross and the Campaign to End Loneliness suggest taking action in a number of ways:
- Employers need to have a better understanding of how loneliness affects their people and take meaningful action.
- An understanding that the nature of some roles may put people at higher risk of experiencing loneliness.
- Address loneliness among managers and support them to build connections with and among their teams.
- Support minority ethnic groups to feel a greater sense of belonging at work. Address workplace discrimination towards workers from minority ethnic groups and disabled workers.
- Ensure home, onsite, and hybrid workers are supported to develop and maintain work relationships.
- Training to help people identify loneliness – loneliness itself may not be the presenting issue.
- Awareness campaigns to tackle stigma.
- Create networks and other ways of coming together around shared interests or concerns.
By implementing these strategies, employers can create a more connected and supportive work environment, fostering better collaboration among team members. This sense of community can boost morale, create trust, increase productivity, and ultimately lead to a more positive and fulfilling work experience for employees.
Conclusion
Exploring the subject of loneliness in the workplace, it’s evident that it transcends personal struggles, impacting organisational productivity, employee health, and overall workplace culture. The intricate links between loneliness and mental health outcomes, highlights the pressing need for employers to foster more inclusive, empathetic work environments.
There is a clear imperative for employers to implement targeted strategies focused on nurturing social connections, promoting mental health resources, and building a culture of belonging. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern work dynamics, especially with the increasing prevalence of remote workplaces, fostering an environment where every employee feels connected and valued is paramount. By acknowledging the profound impacts of loneliness and taking decisive action, employers can mitigate its effects, contributing to a healthier, more productive work environment that benefits everyone involved.
The best way to find out if your employees are feeling this way is to ask them! If you don’t already include questions in your employee surveys that broach this subject, talk to us when thinking about your next one. We have a wealth of knowledge for you to draw upon and we’re happy to share this with you. Contact us today! info@surveyintiative.co.uk
References
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Mental Health and loneliness: relationship across life stages (2022).
Mind, Loneliness, (2019), (p.2).
https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/we-speak-up-for-change/loneliness-at-work
https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/how-can-businesses-tackle-loneliness/