Remote & hybrid working | What to do if your team are struggling with loneliness

As Loneliness Awareness Week continues, we’re looking at the rise of loneliness in the workplace. Recent research from Tanner’s 2022 global culture report, which analysed data provided by 38,000 HR leaders and execs, found that 62% of British workers admit they feel less engaged with family and friends than they did a year ago, with a quarter saying they feel disengaged from colleagues.

This points to a growing loneliness crisis in the workplace. The pandemic – which saw larger numbers of people working remotely than ever before – no doubt contributed to this. Historically, a large proportion of people’s social interactions was with work colleagues, and many people have met best friends or even partners through work – but this has become much harder now remote and hybrid work have been normalised. Chats over the watercooler have become messages over Teams, with Zoom quizzes instead of Friday drinks after work.

Although both hybrid and remote working have huge benefits in reducing time and costs spent commuting or on childcare, and contributing towards a better work-life balance, the pay-off is that some of the social aspect of work life has been sacrificed, leaving some people feeling lonelier than ever.

But having friends in the workplace is, in fact, as important as it’s ever been – from an employer’s perspective as well as a personal one. The 2021 Post Lockdown Friends & Happiness In The Workplace study by Wildgoose found that not only does having a good friend at work making it more enjoyable and provide support, but 22% believe it makes them more productive and a further 21% thinks having a friend makes them more creative.