The 3% Conference: Navigating Loneliness, the Latest Workplace Epidemic (Part 3)

By Meghan Brown

For part three of our 3% Conference series, we’re examining the latest workplace epidemic: Loneliness. To see more of our 3% Conference key learnings, check out our piece on taking authentic action in the age of social justice and our piece on creating strong connections virtually.

As part of the conference’s focus on wellness, we heard from Shasta Nelson, author and relationship expert. Loneliness has been growing in our society for some time. A recent survey sponsored by Cigna, found three out of five Americans are lonely, and this was long before the COVID-19 pandemic created an entirely new sense of isolation.

Many of us turn to the workplace for companionship and comradery and finding friendship in the workplace is a significant metric for employee engagement and retention. The current remote working environment has eliminated this connectivity — leaving many of us struggling to find ways to connect.

Shasta encouraged us to think outside the box and to find ways to reinvigorate and maintain our connections in these challenging times. Be proactive, set up virtual coffee hours, pick up the phone or have a video chat instead of sending an email, take a lunch break, and take time for yourself. For many of us, remote working will be temporary, and while it may seem daunting, there are ways to make it less so and to forge a path forward focused on friendship.

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To learn more about the 3% conference, visit 3percentmovement.com.