A third of UK workers have a high mental health risk driven by loneliness, a report by healthcare provider Telus Health has found.
The health provider highlighted that workers aged under 40 are 80% more likely to lack trusted workplace relationships, compared to workers over 50.
Workers in the UK without trusted workplace relationships are three and a half times more likely to feel isolated compared to those with trusted relationships, the findings showed.
Paula Allen, senior vice-president of research and total wellbeing at Telus Health, told HR magazine that a lack of trusted relationships at work can cause employees to feel isolated.
She said: “Without trust, an individual is more likely to experience anxiety, and there is a lack of social support to manage stress.
“This can lead to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation, even with frequent social interaction.
“These factors increase the risk of mental health issues and can also have physical health implications due to the strain it creates.”
Rebecca Holt, co-founder of Working Mindset, told HR magazine that younger employees are less likely to report feeling lonely than older employees.
She said: “The huge shift in working practices during and following the Covid-19 pandemic changed the whole connection landscape for employees. We all have less opportunity to connect with our colleagues.
“But this has disproportionately impacted younger workers who want more face-to-face contact.
“Older employees may also be more likely to be open about feelings of loneliness and therefore seek to address this.”
