During the height of the pandemic, when many companies were forced to shift to remote working arrangements, there were countless studies published about the impacts of social isolation—whether on productivity, company culture, or individuals themselves.
But even after “social distancing” left the vernacular and organizations returned to the office or created remote and hybrid models, employees are still dealing with a loneliness epidemic. According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) 2023 Work in America Survey, over a quarter of all employees still report intense feelings of social disconnection or isolation from colleagues in the workplace.
Of course, this degree of social isolation at work wasn’t always the case. So what changed, and why have social ties become more crucial than ever before, especially as we head into the highly-anticipated fall season?