State of the Nation report finds workplace loneliness is a major health issue

• Life insurer AIA partners with Ending Loneliness Together for Australia’s inaugural Loneliness Awareness Week, 7-11 August
• 2023 State of the Nation Report on social connection in Australia launched
• Younger and middle-aged working Australians the loneliest in the country
• Lonely people less productive in the workplace

As part of Australia’s first ever Loneliness Awareness Week (7-11August) a State of the Nation Report into social connection was launched.

The report reveals that nearly one in three adults (32 per cent) are lonely, while one in six (17 per cent) are suffering from severe loneliness, putting them at a higher risk of lower workplace productivity, poor physical and mental health, and chronic disease.

Shining a light on loneliness

Life, health and wellbeing insurer, AIA Australia has partnered with national authority Ending Loneliness Together since 2021 to shine a light on loneliness at work.

Ending Loneliness Together, a national network of organisations and individuals united to address the growing problem of loneliness, surveyed more than 4,000 adults between June and July this year, and found younger people (18-24) and middle-aged Australians (45-54) — much of the working population — are the loneliest in the country.

“Loneliness is present in the workplace and can have serious impact on employees and businesses,” says Damien Mu, CEO of AIA Australia.

“The report finds that people who feel lonely report less work productivity and more work impairment compared with other people.”

• 35 per cent of people who are lonely report overall work impairment[1] compared with 24 per cent of people who are not lonely
• 31 per cent of people who are lonely report presenteeism[2], compared with 22 per cent of people who are not lonely 
• 11 per cent of people who are lonely report absenteeism[3], compared with 8 per cent of those who are not lonely.

A complex social phenomenon

Workplace loneliness arises from perceived deficiencies in a person’s social relationships in the workplace.

Loneliness is a complex social, health and economic issue that affects employees across different demographics, seniority levels, and industry sectors.

Research has previously shown that workplace loneliness is associated with poorer job performance and satisfaction, lower organisational commitment, and reduced levels of creativity.

Compared with their non-lonely counterparts, employees who are lonelier make more errors, take more sick leave, and express a stronger intention to resign.

The results show that despite one in three Australians feeling lonely, we’re not talking about it in the workplace or our other communities.

'This highlights the stigma and misconceptions associated with loneliness and has led to the inception and launch of Australia’s first Loneliness Awareness Week (7-11 August 2023)," Mu says.

"AIA and Ending Loneliness Together are working together in a shared-value agenda to raise awareness, reduce stigma, educate the community and develop the tools to reduce the negative impact of loneliness on Australians’ health and wellbeing, communities and workplaces."

Fostering meaningful connections

Mu hopes these findings inspire workplaces to check in on employees who might be feeling lonely and start to foster more meaningful social connections.

“We know that working-aged Australians, particularly the young and middle-aged, are lonely,” Mu says. “It’s estimated that 37 per cent of the Australian workforce feels lonely, while nearly a quarter do not engage in activities to connect with their colleagues.

“At AIA Australia, we want to create understanding, start conversations, and encourage connection in workplaces.”

With that in mind, AIA and Ending Loneliness Together will be launching a corporate awareness program in early 2024 to equip workplaces with the right tools to do so.

“Social connection is a biological need, just like thirst or hunger. We all feel lonely at times. We need to change the dialogue and support Australians to reach out to others,” Mu says.

“Our partnership with Ending Loneliness Together, as evidenced by the report findings, plays an important role in raising awareness and educating workplaces and communities about loneliness and its impacts on population health, wellbeing and productivity.”

Identifying the signs

Ending Loneliness Together Scientific Chair Dr. Michelle Lim adds that workplaces need to get better at identifying loneliness issues and fostering social connection.

“Loneliness in the workplace if left unaddressed may lead to increased absenteeism, presenteeism, and poorer health, which will impact businesses,” Lim says.

“It’s clear that many people understand the consequences of loneliness but do not know how to talk about it, how to ask for the connections they need, and where to get help.

“The State of the Nation report highlights that loneliness is a critical issue of our time and has been recognised as a public health priority for many countries around the world. While the detrimental health, economic and social impacts of loneliness are well established, community awareness and action remain low.”

Stigma and shame are preventing people from talking about feeling lonely. In turn, this reduces opportunities for people feeling lonely to find connection and seek/receive the support they need. It also places Australians at a greater risk of persistent loneliness.

A way forward for workplaces

Workplaces have an opportunity to take steps towards an Australia where everyone feels a sense of meaningful social connection and belonging by:

• Educating employees to understand loneliness and the impact it can have on health and wellbeing
• Educating leaders and employees to know how to reach out to their colleagues who may be feeling lonely
• Normalising conversations about loneliness to remove the associated stigma
• Building workplace social connection into the employer’s health and wellbeing strategy