5 Meaningful Ways to Help Employees Build Social Connections at Work

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?

Prior to 2020, research on social connectedness in the workplace was few and far between—some studies even framed employee camaraderie as an incentive rather than a necessity. 

Having strong social bonds in the workplace isn’t a new phenomenon and has always been essential for fostering engagement and morale. However, employees today find it more difficult to form and cultivate connections in the workplace—and this is especially true for young employees navigating the post-pandemic workforce for the first time. 

But it isn’t for lack of social skills.

Whether teams are remote, hybrid, or fully in-person, they often face the same four challenges:

1. Company culture isn’t a priority.
2. There aren’t enough opportunities for social engagement.
3. Employees are burned out.
4. Social wellbeing is not incentivized.

And the results are what one might expect…

When employers address these needs in the workplace, it can go a long way toward benefiting the health and wellbeing of employees and reaching organizational benchmarks. That’s why it’s imperative to fold extracurricular activities and team-building opportunities into your larger wellbeing strategy.

For example, creating opportunities for social connectedness between employees can lead to:

• Healthier lifestyle choices inside and outside the workplace
• Long-lasting and reoccurring engagement and job satisfaction
• Drastic reduction in work-related stress, burnout, and social isolation
• Overall increase in retention and decrease in turnover

Now that we understand why social connectedness is so crucial for helping employees thrive at work, let’s look at a few ways employers can create worthwhile social opportunities for workforces:

At WellRight, we specialize in developing holistic wellness programs tailored to transforming organizations into communities. Contact one of our specialists to learn more about how we can help you nurture the social wellbeing of your workforce.