With the rise of remote work and the intense media debate around it, many of us have heard that loneliness is increasing and it’s bad for our health. In fact, last year, the US Surgeon General warned of an epidemic of loneliness and isolation that was intensified by the Pandemic.
“The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity,” said the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.The physical and mental health impacts of loneliness are alarming, and they spill into the workplace and employee performance.
While workplaces may not drive the technological, societal and pandemic changes at the root of isolation and loneliness, they must respond to it. By supporting their employees, helping them deal with isolation and improve their situation in its earliest stages, employers can create a more fulfilling and better performing workplace for all.Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations.