Employers are urged to do even more to combat loneliness

Employers have been urged to play a more active part in combating loneliness both inside and outside of the workplace.

According to a study by the Economics of Mutuality Alliance at the University of Manchester, 44% of the people in the world are moderately or very lonely.

The study on Business vs Loneliness looked at over 50,000 responses from participants across five countries, including the US, Mexico and the UK.

It concluded that loneliness was not a simple personal problem, but a larger social and economic issue which requires system-wide, large-scale solutions. This includes workplaces.

It highlighted that employers can often take simple and practical steps to reduce loneliness. As an example, Asahi Europe & International uses its hospitality spaces and online platform to help young people overcome loneliness by creating meaningful social connections.

It was surprising to find out that loneliness decreases as we age, contrary to popular belief.

The study found that more than a quarter of Generation Z (29%) feel lonely compared to 14% of Baby Boomers or the Silent Generation.

The report recommends that most interventions are still geared towards the elderly. This highlights a need for products, workplace cultures, and services that prioritize belonging.

Positive alone time is helpful to more than half of people in overcoming loneliness.

Researchers recommended that businesses could also take advantage of this opportunity to create environments, products and experiences which support solitude rather than just social interaction.

The survey revealed that 14% of respondents said they have nowhere to turn when they feel lonely and want to be with other people.

Employers had the opportunity to create spaces that encourage connectivity in caf s and retail stores as well as offices.

People who did not belong to a group felt lonely 1.6 times as often. Businesses could build community by offering memberships, loyalty programs, and experiences that are shared.

In addition, loneliness is doubled when income is dissatisfied, regardless of the actual earnings.

The article suggests that companies can improve employee loyalty and retention by improving their employees’ perception of financial well-being, not just their financial status.

Mandikova Drahomira said that the Economics of Mutuality model helped our brands drive both positive social impact and commercial growth.

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