We all know the benefits of WFH: Less time commuting, more time spent with family and friends, the ability to work from anywhere in the world…
The list goes on.
But four years since the start of the pandemic, it’s becoming clear that this switch to remote work might be fuelling employee loneliness.
You only have to look on Reddit. People are asking for ways to feel less isolated:
According to a survey by BetterUp, 69% of employees report being unsatisfied with their social connections at work, and 43% don’t feel a sense of connection with their colleagues.
And research by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and California State University (CSU) suggests loneliness drags down employee performance and commitment. These employees are also more likely to burn out.
So, in a culture where remote work and hybrid roles are commonplace, how can you tackle employee loneliness?
We’ve got some suggestions for you in this post.
5 ways to tackle employee loneliness
#1: Encourage your employees to hop on calls for no other reason than to catch up
Remote workers have fewer opportunities for “water cooler chats” – but these chats are a great way for your employees to get to know one another. They also stave off employee loneliness.
So, simply by encouraging your employees to hop on calls, you’ll be encouraging them to connect. In turn, this will boost collaboration and increase productivity.
Want a little more structure?
Your team could have social lunch breaks in small video conferencing groups to interact with each other, with the main rule being you don’t discuss work. You could also run virtual social events, like quizzes and wine-tasting events.
(Quizzes can be fun!)
Of course, having too many video meetings may be tedious, so offering phone calls for quick catch-ups rather than email or IMs might be a good alternative.
#2: Encourage your employees to do activities outside of work
Sometimes, managers confuse employee loneliness and boredom, so another way to reduce feelings of apathy is to help your employees fill their time with exciting activities.
You don’t have to do anything crazy here. Simply asking your employees about their weekends and being genuinely interested in what they are doing can help support them.
If someone mentions their love for hiking, consider organizing a team hiking challenge. This not only raises funds for charity but can also instill a sense of purpose and camaraderie among the team.
#3: Encourage your employees to give
Often, feelings of loneliness come from wanting more from other people (i.e. focusing on yourself). Giving to other people is a great antidote.
And you can help your employees with this.
For example, you could decide on a charity to support for the year as a team and spend days volunteering at said charity. This could be tending to a community garden, painting your local shelter, or collecting food donations — the list is endless.
When your employees can offer their gifts and talents, they’ll feel more connected, which will likely spill over into work.
#4: Encourage your employees to open up to each other
Some companies are scripting social interactions to help beat away employee loneliness and help their workers open up.
For example, Arnold and Havas Media holds “Empathy Workshops,” where team members draw from a deck of cards with self-reflective questions such as “What makes me unique?” Before answering, the team member must articulate their internal reaction (“my heart is beating faster,” “my mind just went blank”) and label that emotional response (“embarrassment, anxiety”).
Making these personal disclosures builds empathy in the other participants before they hear the answer.
The workshops also script the second part of the interaction: a supportive response. After the speaker concludes, the listeners must also share their emotional reactions and answers to the card questions. This could sound like, “I saw you getting anxious, and then I got anxious because I was putting myself in your shoes, imagining how I would answer that question.”
Workshops like this can feel awkward. They also need to be sensitively managed. However, they can be a great way to encourage your employees to interact more openly, emotionally, and personally to forge genuine relationships at work.
#5: Be there for your employees
There are a few ways you can do this.
Number one is to provide specific, real-time feedback to your employees. If you pay attention to their work and help them improve, they know you care about them.
Number two is to give your full attention to your employees when you ask them how they’re doing. Multitasking or being on your phone is pretty dismissive. It says, “I’m just asking this question to make conversation.”
Lastly, number three is to give all your employees – not just those who are the loudest or for whom English is their first language—a chance to be heard. Don’t forget about team members in different time zones, and ensure they’re included in meetings. Being able to speak out about concerns matters.
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The post Employee loneliness: 5 ways can you make remote WFH less lonely for your employees appeared first on Gun.io.