HRPI Co-Director, Connie Hadley featured in Harvard Business Review, “We’re Still Lonely: It’s Time for Organizations to Take a New Approach”
HRPI Co-Director, Connie Hadley’s new article: “We’re Still Lonely: It’s Time for Organizations to Take a New Approach” is featured as the cover piece in the November-December edition of Harvard Business Review.
Overview: In recent years, the huge impact that work loneliness is having on healthcare costs, absenteeism, and turnover has received widespread attention. Despite growing awareness, the problem remains, with one in five employees worldwide feeling lonely at work. In this article, the authors debunk myths about work loneliness, such as the belief that in-person work or team assignments can solve the issue. They emphasize that loneliness is not just a personal problem but also an organizational one, influenced by the work environment. Practical actions that employers can take to reduce work loneliness include measuring loneliness, designing slack in workflows, creating a culture of connection, and building social activities into the rhythm of work.
Press Coverage
- Axios: “Why Workers Feel Lonely No Matter Where They Work” (Reporter Emily Peck, Oct 21, 2024)
- NPR’s Marketplace: “How to Cure Office Loneliness” (Reporter Matt Levin, Oct 22, 2024)
- Daily Skimm: “Why Are America’s Workers So Lonely? — A New Study Provides Some Clues” (Oct 22, 2024)
They have also created an online self-scoring version of the WLS. It will automatically generate which category of work loneliness (low, medium, or high) you are in: WORK LONELINESS SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL