Why Building Friendships At Work Can Help Employees Feel Connected

"Employees are feeling disengaged from their work, with more people saying they're unsatisfied by their jobs, or that they just show up for a paycheck. Half of the people responding to a global survey by PwC say their jobs fail to give them a sense of meaning, and 38% say they work just to get by, based on data from Pew Research Center."

"People also feel isolated from their colleagues, with 64% saying they've felt lonely at work and 46% wishing they were closer to their coworkers, according to HR Grapevine. Surprisingly, a majority of people would trade 20% of their salary to have friends at work, a KPMG survey shows. The personal costs are significant. Without a sense of purpose, we're more likely to suffer from health problems and even cognitive challenges."

"And businesses also endure substantial costs. When we feel less connected to colleagues, our motivation declines because we feel less responsible to them, and this affects our productivity. Loneliness costs businesses an estimated $13,300 per lonely employee each year in absenteeism, healthcare costs and turnover, according to data from Sunny Workplace. On the other hand, researchers at Brigham Young University have demonstrated that connections at work offer a near panacea of benefits, from engagement and retention to collaboration, motivation and well-being."

Workplace loneliness has spread into offices, leaving many employees disconnected and discontent. Employee disengagement is increasing: half of PwC respondents say their jobs fail to give them a sense of meaning, and 38% report working just to get by, per Pew Research Center. Many employees feel isolated from colleagues, with 64% reporting loneliness at work and 46% wishing for closer coworker relationships; a KPMG survey found a majority would trade 20% of salary for workplace friends. Loneliness harms health and cognition, reduces motivation and productivity, and costs employers roughly $13,300 per lonely employee annually. Strong workplace connections improve engagement, retention, collaboration, motivation, and well-being. Leaders can clarify purpose, provide feedback, and create growth opportunities that connect employees.

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