Planning for Loneliness Awareness
I caught up with my cousins on the weekend. They have an annual tradition of bringing the family together, grandkids and all, to make salami, a tradition that was passed down from my grandparents who migrated to Australia from Italy.
Alongside the salami making, which they've got down to a tee, there's always plenty of wine, good food, and talking around the kitchen table. Social connection has protective benefits for health and longevity, and yet, as a society, I wonder how often we prioritise time like this with our family or friends, especially in countries like Australia where we don't tend to have or hold onto these kinds of traditions.
Connection. With family, friends, in our communities, in our workplaces…. is essential for our health and wellbeing, and yet social isolation seems to be growing by the day.
If we’re not prioritising this with our family, how much attention are we giving to it at work, the place we spend so much of our waking time? The imperative is now on organisations to be able to provide opportunities for connection and do what they can to reduce the sense of loneliness may people feel, however this is harder than it looks.
“There’s a great deal of scientific evidence that social connectedness is a very strong protector of emotional well-being, and I think there’s no question that social isolation has greatly increased in our culture in, say, the past 50 years, past 100 years.”
Globally, we are experiencing higher rates of loneliness than ever before.
Loneliness is more than just an emotional experience; it carries profound physical and psychological impacts. Physically, chronic loneliness can lead to elevated stress levels, which in turn can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, weaken the immune system, and even reduce life expectancy.
Studies have shown that loneliness can be as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being obese, demonstrating the severity of its impact.
Psychologically, loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, and a general decline in mental wellbeing. It can impair cognitive function, contribute to sleep disorders, and decrease overall life satisfaction.
Psychologically, loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, and a general decline in mental wellbeing. It can impair cognitive function, contribute to sleep disorders, and decrease overall life satisfaction.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
When alone, the pervasive feeling of isolation can make it difficult for people to engage in social interactions, creating a vicious cycle that exacerbates their sense of loneliness. There’s also strong evidence to suggest a link between tiredness and loneliness, whether that comes first, or is caused by the decrease in wellbeing it is hard to say.
On the flipside, feeling socially connected can increase length of life, reduce anxiety and depression, and strengthen your immune system. The improved psychological wellbeing of social connectedness also increases productivity and performance, with positive working relationships being one of the strongest predictors of happiness at work.
One of the key findings in the 2024 State of the Global Workplace Report was that fully remote employees experience the greatest level of loneliness among all employee types (hybrid and office-based). However, since the pandemic gave workers the taste of autonomy to work from home, many are actively pushing to continue that status, even when employers are calling them back into the office.
Further, some employees actually flourished in these new work arrangements, namely parents of young children, people with disabilities, and mothers who need more flexibility in their roles as they are often the ones who reduce their hours or give up work to look after young children. As a broader society, we should consider the positive impact these arrangements are having on these cohorts, and the ripple this creates in our society as a result. Without going into too much depth, some of these positive ripples may include: improved family relations and dynamics with children receiving more balanced care from both primary carers; increased autonomy and self determination for people with disabilities, alongside decrease in stress and financial strain; improved working conditions and financial capability for mothers of young children, enabling them to continue to contribute to their family, the economy, and their superannuation.
As we head towards Loneliness Awareness Week in Australia, to be held 5-11 August this year, it is time to start creating your plan to raise awareness of loneliness in your organisation. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Your Loneliness Week Workplace Plan
1. Review all data you have on hand: Look for trends in reports on stress, wellbeing, loneliness, sick days, use of EAP, etc. If you don’t have much of this data, or you feel you are not getting a good picture of the situation at hand, consider doing some spot interviews and pulse testing asap.
2. Find or isolate statistics on job function and type. How many staff are remote, and what are their roles? Again, look for areas of your organisation that may be feeling more isolated based on their role, or whether they are office-based, hybrid or work-from-home.
3. Look at your budget. Can you bring people together during this awareness week? Before jumping in and shouting ‘YES!’, ask yourself, is this the best use of our budget, or are we better off sectioning the funds and bringing people together in different ways.
4. Plan activities for the awareness week, but use these as a launching pad for longer term initiatives. Here are some ideas:
1. During the awareness week create a roundtable of mid-level managers from across the organisation who come up with a list of ‘fun working groups’ for hobbies that they know their team members enjoy, which is then shared with the organisation. Possible examples include, astrophotography, chess, cooking, fitness, a book club, etc. If a minimum of 2 or 3 people want to join one, like the astrophotography group, regardless of their role or seniority, they can meet with the other members once a week with the sole purpose of chatting about this hobby. This time is blocked out in their calendar in advance on their behalf, and the culture is modelled by having senior level staff joining the groups.
2. Volunteering is a popular way for team members to work together towards an important cause, while boosting their own wellbeing at the same time. Volunteering can be done in person, but it can also be done online. You can bring people together to volunteer for something during the awareness week, or you could bring people together to discuss it during the week, and then build a plan going forwards into the rest of the year. Both of these options provide an opportunity to connect and, as mentioned, often doing altruistic activities has a much more positive effect than simply coming together to socialise.
3. Provide vouchers for social activities. Provide each staff member with a voucher (released upon receipt) that can be redeemed for any social event or activity that allows them to increase social connection in their community. To make it simple, allow managers the authority to reimburse the purchase if it fulfills certain criteria. Examples can include, joining a community class, some sports, or learning a new skill.
5. Create promotional materials. Let people know that you take loneliness at work seriously, however you also want to tread carefully. Some people don’t want their workplace to get too involved in their personal lives. This is why having a variety of approaches is a good idea. It is also better if you don’t make activities mandatory. Share with your people the background behind your plan. Why is it important to your organisation and how can it help people’s health and wellbeing?
What else can you do for remote employees?
If many workers are calling for remote working capabilities, and many organisations are offering at least a hybrid model of work, how can organisations support remote employees to reduce the impact of loneliness?
Regular Communication
Regular and meaningful communication is vital. Employers should encourage frequent check-ins and updates through video calls, instant messaging, and emails. This helps employees feel connected and valued. Structured team meetings and one-on-one sessions can provide a platform for employees to express concerns and share experiences, reducing feelings of isolation.
2. Create Virtual Social Spaces
Just as employees would chat in the office kitchen or break room, virtual spaces can be created for casual interactions. Virtual coffee breaks, happy hours, and team-building activities can mimic the informal social interactions that happen in a physical office, fostering a sense of community and belonging. The goal here is to avoid work-talk and increase social talk so this may have to be actively encouraged.
4. Promote Mental Health Resources
Providing access to mental health resources is essential, and it is also important to provide regular reminders to the staff to access them. Employers can offer virtual counseling services, mental health workshops, mindfulness sessions and other activities that both increase self awareness, and create opportunities to connect and share with others. Making these resources readily available and encouraging their use can help employees manage stress and combat loneliness more effectively.
5. Recognise and Celebrate Achievements
Acknowledging employees' efforts and celebrating their achievements can significantly boost morale and create a sense of connection. Regular recognition, whether through virtual shout-outs during meetings or a dedicated recognition platform, helps employees feel seen and appreciated, mitigating feelings of isolation.
6. Create Mentorship Programs
Mentorship programs can provide employees with guidance, support, and a sense of connection to the company. Regular interactions with mentors can help employees navigate their professional journey and feel more integrated into the organisational culture. This type of partnership is often mutually beneficial, with mentors gaining a greater sense of satisfaction and purpose as a result.
7. Encourage Integration
Rather than work-life balance, encouraging employees to effectively integrate work and home life in a healthy way is essential, whether they’re working in the office or remotely. Employers should promote flexible working hours, ensure reasonable workload expectations, and respect boundaries. A balanced life helps employees maintain their mental health and personal connections, reducing the impact of loneliness.
Loneliness is an increasing burden in our modern world which can have serious physical and psychological impact. The shift towards remote work and flexible job arrangements is clearly beneficial for many, but there are also challenges for employee wellbeing that needs to be addressed. Raising awareness of loneliness through initiatives like Loneliness Awareness Week can create opportunities to bring people together and create a culture of connection both in the organisation and the wider community. Initiatives that use strategies to enhance communication, connection, and support, help to mitigate the effects of loneliness.
Need help with planning your wellbeing strategy or a campaign for Loneliness Awareness Week? We’re here to help you.
Have you set up your free strategy call yet? Get in touch to talk with us today.
References
’Ending Loneliness Together’, 2024, accessed 01/07/24 <https://endingloneliness.com.au/>
Seppala, E. and King, M., 2017, ‘Burnout at Work Isn’t Just About Burnout. It’s Also About Loneliness’, , accessed 30/06/24, <https://hbr.org/2017/06/burnout-at-work-isnt-just-about-exhaustion-its-also-about-loneliness?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr&utm_source=linkedin&tpcc=orgsocial_edit>
Gallup (2024). State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report, accessed 30/06/24, <https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx>
’Loneliness Awareness Week’, 2024, accessed 01/07/24, <https://lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au/#research>