Loneliness is an epidemic, affecting about half of Americans. But it’s not just a personal problem that takes a toll on someone’s well-being—it’s impacting how people perform at work and grow in their careers, according to a Gartner report, which identified loneliness as a Future of Work Trend for 2025.
The report suggests loneliness is a “business risk” for companies that significantly affects employee performance and engagement—and organizations should take steps to foster connections and support their workers.
How loneliness affects employees
Loneliness refers to the emotional state that comes from experiencing social isolation. About 20% of employees reported experiencing loneliness, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report.
Workers under 35 were more likely to say they were lonely compared to older employees, but loneliness affected men and women equally. Respondents’ job levels didn’t impact their loneliness status.
There are several work-related reasons for loneliness. Workers may not feel connected to company culture, that their work is meaningful, or that their voices are being heard. They may not have a healthy work-life balance, chances to collaborate, or opportunities to grow. Many may also be dealing with personal problems.
While loneliness harms the employees dealing with it, of course, it also takes a toll on the organization. Gartner reported that it leads to lower productivity, camaraderie, work output, and desire to grow.
Engagement is a major factor in loneliness. Those who feel a sense of belonging or that their opinions count or who have a best friend at work are less likely to feel lonely, according to Gallup.
Fully remote workers report higher engagement at work, but also show higher instances of loneliness, previous research showed. However, return-to-office (RTO) mandates don’t seem to be a solution, as Gartner reported that on-site workers are often dissatisfied with their workplace interactions. RTO also doesn’t solve what’s contributing to the loneliness, including feelings of isolation or individualized collaboration needs.
Encourage employees to build their own connections with coworkers based on their own needs and preferences.
How to minimize loneliness in your organization
When employees feel lonely, it hinders company growth, Gartner said. The report urged organizations to take steps to address the problem and consider loneliness as just as serious as any other issue affecting the business.
To address employee loneliness, Gartner suggests focusing on two main strategies:
1. Improve connectedness
Identify how teams collaborate, and what’s working and what isn’t. Then, help establish new collaboration opportunities that better meet their needs. This should include encouraging more interpersonal interactions and sharing, which will boost productivity. Organizations that foster a guided collaboration approach will achieve their profit goals 10% more often than those that don’t, according to Gartner.
Encourage employees to build their own connections with coworkers based on their own needs and preferences. The report suggested partnering with communication leaders to help employees establish connections, socialize, and deepen ties with a company’s culture and community.
2. Support out-of-work connections
Give employees time off (beyond their regular paid time off benefit) to enjoy social experiences—either with their coworkers or without. For example, give workers time off to volunteer, which could help them build connections through getting involved with their community and feel a sense of purpose by giving back to a cause they care about.
Social engagement is crucial for employee well-being in and outside of work. When your people are overall happier, they’ll be more productive and engaged. This will ultimately address your business risk.
Source – https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/human-resources/combat-workplace-loneliness