Fend off winter loneliness and isolation by building community and fostering social connection at work.
The end of the year is a busy time for businesses. Across industries, workers are buckling down to meet quotas and end-of-year performance goals. Many are balancing these priorities with increased demands at home to care for children on break from school or busily preparing for seasonal celebrations.
In the chaos of the season, it can be easy to miss signs of loneliness among your workforce. Yet, one survey suggests an overwhelming 55% of Americans feel sad or lonely during the winter season, citing reasons like grief, seasonal depression, missing loved ones and increased pressure at work.
As the year comes to a close, cultivating community has important benefits for your business. Social connection supports both the mental and physical health of workers, making them more resistant to chronic stress and burnout. The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation highlights the economic benefits of connection: boosting innovation, creativity and quality of work. Social connection at work may also be linked to shorter recovery times and fewer missed days of work after injury and illness.
With this in mind, here are tips to help support social connection and reinforce community in your workplace this winter.
Gauge the strength of your employees' support systems in and out of the workplace. Utilize tools like the UCLA Loneliness Scale and Belonging Barometer to measure their sense of connection. Conduct informal assessments through engagement surveys, virtual town hall polls, or one-on-one check-ins with supervisors. Our Mental Health Conversation Guide for Managers can help managers start the conversation.
Embrace the end of the year as an opportunity to establish a new workplace tradition. Whether it’s a festive office holiday party, employee gift exchange or holiday bake-off, these events give employees a chance to connect with peers outside of work, leading to a stronger sense of community.
Pro Tip: Ensure that your end-of-year activities are culturally inclusive. Ask employees how they celebrate the season, establish diverse event-planning committees and spread awareness about diverse end-of-year celebrations.
Harness the power of volunteering to boost purpose foster feelings of connection and well-being. Leaders can try hosting community volunteer days, sponsoring giving campaigns or offering paid time off for employees to volunteer at an organization of their choice.
The end-of-year crunch and associated pressure can be a source of stress and anxiety for employees, especially if they don’t get time off to relax and spend time with loved ones. Carve out PTO days for employees, and establish workplace policies that respect employee time off. Since not everyone follows the same holiday schedule, consider establishing a floating holiday policy for workers to take off when it’s most helpful for them. This gives employees a chance to de-stress and fosters a culture of inclusivity.
Many businesses already have support systems in place for employees who are struggling with their mental health. Be sure to remind employees of the resources they can utilize when they’re feeling stressed, burnt out, isolated or alone. Support is available, whether from your EAP, employee resource groups or medical professionals. For more resources to support your employees, check out our Belonging Guide for Employers, or watch a recording of our event, The Case for Beloning at Work, which featured insights from business leaders at Google, Eventbrite and more to address the Loneliness Epidemic at work.
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At our final event of the year, a panel of top experts will offer their predictions about the biggest workplace health trends for the new year. We’ll explore how loneliness and polarization could threaten workplace culture; share perspectives about escalating healthcare costs; and explore how employers are bracing for the health impacts of extreme weather events and climate change. Join us on Thursday, December 7th at 2pm ET / 11am PT for insights and analysis to help you prepare for what’s in store in 2024.
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This December 1st, unite with millions worldwide this World AIDS Day as we stand together to support the 39 million living with HIV and honor the 32 million lost to AIDS. Progress has been made since 1981, but stigma and structural challenges persist. Launched in 1988, World AIDS Day is a global call to action, fostering unity, shared experiences, remembrance, and a collective commitment to ending HIV.
In the fight against HIV, employers play a pivotal role. By championing healthcare access, promoting inclusive policies, combating stigma, and reflecting on HIV's impact, they not only make a difference for their employees but also contribute to accelerating America's overall progress in ending HIV.
Looking for guidance on planning your company’s World AIDS Day strategy? Dive into our latest employer toolkit, offering six powerful tips to help your company take meaningful action against HIV in your workplace this World AIDS Day.
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