social isolation

How Can Leaders Create Connectedness at Work?

How Can Leaders Create Connectedness at Work?

Workplaces can be the drivers of positive mental health outcomes.

We live in a world where a huge number of people suffer from mental ill health and access to help is poor. As employers, why not go a step further from just ‘not making things worse’ to actually making things better?

Creating social-connectedness at work is one opportunity for leaders to impact their people positively. Loneliness experienced at home can seep into the workplace and leaders have the power to not only prevent work-based loneliness, but combat loneliness overall.

Workplaces can be the engines that drive a socially connected world.

How can leaders create an environment that fosters social connection?

How to Increase Your Social Connectedness - Even if You Work Remote

How to Increase Your Social Connectedness - Even if You Work Remote

Developing strategies to increase opportunities for social connection is a major research concern that is impacting public health policy globally at multiple levels; from the design of community living spaces to employment regulations, public health campaigns and how we harness technology.

What can individuals do to ensure they are getting the social connection they need for mental and physical wellbeing?

Firstly, establish how much social connection you need.

Loneliness: A Psychosocial Hazard?

Loneliness: A Psychosocial Hazard?

Canada - that bastion of forward thinking - is currently working on developing public health guidelines for social connection to improve population mental health, and control mental and physical health risks. Bit like your five a day, but in chit-chats rather than fruit and veg.

Does that mean Friday night pizza parties are back on the work perks list, or should even form part of your Psychosocial Risk Management plan?. (TLDR: no. For more nuance, read on).