How HR leaders can help solve the workplace loneliness epidemic
Most companies want to create a culture where employees can get along and make lasting friendships that improve their workplace experience. And a new survey of 1,000 full-time workers by professional services firm KPMG shows just how dire that need is.
Most professionals feel work friendships help them feel more engaged (83%), satisfied on the job (81%), and connected to their workplaces (80%), according to the survey. Although four out of five people say they have at least one friend at work, that leaves out a troubling percentage of workers who say they have no one. It also reflects something that everyone from middle managers to the surgeon general of the United States have been saying for years: America is suffering through a loneliness “epidemic” that is harming individual and societal health.
“Friendship in the workplace is an undervalued solution for addressing many of the issues around loneliness, burnout, and disengagement that we are seeing in today’s workforce,” Sandy Torchia, U.S. vice chair of talent and culture at KPMG tells Fortune. “People want their employers to cultivate a culture that fosters friendships at work and opportunities for people to come together, but there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.”
Friendships are also particularly critical to younger workers. Entry-level employees are most likely to say that close friendships at work have the most significant positive impact on mental health (63%), the survey found, compared to their mid-level (45%) and senior (40%) counterparts.
While some organizations are adept at organically creating a friendly office environment, it’s difficult for others, especially those with fully remote workforces. The study found that employees struggle to make friends virtually, with only 19% of entry-level employees saying they met this way, and one-third (30%) of remote workers feel their work setting makes it difficult to make friends, compared to 16% of hybrid or in-office workers. That said, when asked what course of action will lead to workers making more friends, only 16% said going into the office more days a week would help.
Luckily, there are ways employers and HR leaders can encourage workplace friendships to thrive. It’s crucial to provide ample time for employees to meet face-to-face, whether in person or over Zoom, the study notes. Most professionals—especially Gen Z employees—believe companies should facilitate work friendships through extracurricular, non-work-related activities like holiday parties and happy hours (40%). Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are also of interest (39%), particularly among more mid-level and senior employees.
“Employees find real value in group volunteer opportunities, employee resource groups, happy hours and holiday parties,” says Torchia. “Even seemingly small actions like celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, big accomplishments like running a marathon—all of these go a long way towards initiating and deepening bonds that extend beyond work.”
Brit Morse
brit.morse@fortune.com
Today’s edition was curated by Emma Burleigh.
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