by Tom  Snee

The U.S. Attorney General recently launched a new initiative to combat loneliness in the United States, a phenomenon that two Tippie College of Business researchers say is having an impact in the workplace.

“Loneliness is a critical social issue,” said Beth Livingston, professor of management and entrepreneurship. “Studies show that loneliness leads to an increased likelihood of depression, it affects mortality rates, and it reduces physical and mental well-being.”

This also affects people while they’re at work. Surveys have shown that 10% of American workers report having no friends at work, and 70% say workplace friendships are crucial to their overall happiness.

Studies have shown all this to be true before COVID-19 hit. Not surprisingly, she said this became an even bigger crisis during the pandemic, when so many people were disconnected from friends and co-workers while working from home.

Why is it important for employers to understand this?

Michele Williams, professor of management and entrepreneurship, says it affects an organization’s bottom line. Studies show that people with lots of friendly social connections at work tend to be more engaged, produce higher quality work, and are less likely to leave, reducing the cost of hiring and training new people.

“Loneliness has significant impacts at work and employers are smart to address it,” said Williams.

Williams said her own anecdotal evidence suggests the pandemic has had a significant impact on how employers see other workers, with trust and benevolence even bigger factors in how people judge others’ performance. She said people have always wanted to work with others who trust and understand them, and the pandemic has made those qualities even more important. 

How do people combat loneliness at work?

In a recent webinar sponsored by the Tippie College of Business, the two researchers said it’s important to build trust and connections with each other and suggested strategies for doing so that can work for those who work on location or at home.

—Keep a record or a journal about co-workers and what’s happening in their lives, so you can have conversations with them about more than work and you can start to understand them better. The journal could be nothing more than notes jotted on a sticky note.

—Seek feedback from co-workers or supervisors. Create an information loop that helps you better understand how people see you.

—See things from other peoples’ perspectives. If someone responds angrily when you ask them if they need help, consider why. It might not be about you.

—Listen to others in ways that, Williams says, “helps them rise to the best versions of themselves.”

Media contact: Tom Snee, 319-384-0010 (o); 319-541-8434 (c); tom-snee@uiowa.edu