TOReturning to the office after the summer holidays can make itself felt even more. And the professional loneliness, a state of malaise that makes one feel alone in the workplace. The result is anxiety, depression, low motivation up to burnout. A phenomenon neither rare nor isolated but which indeed affects about 8 out of 10 Italians according to the latest data from one research conducted by the BIP Content Factory Observatory, a multinational consultancy, in collaboration with the Human Capital Center of Excellence led by Alessia Canfarini. We try to clarify.
Professional loneliness, is it alarm?
First of all, let’s start from an assumption: «Professional loneliness has always existed. As the research itself highlights, it is particularly connected to corporate culture and relationships with one’s team.
However, remote workwhich saw its moment of greatest expression after the start of the Covid19 pandemic, is the main culprit of professional loneliness» explains the doctor Beatrice Casoni, specialist in psychiatry.
Defined as “perceived relational deficiency in the workplace”, professional loneliness is accentuated above all by technology: «The underlying technology creates a profound distancing from others. Surely life in smart working is much less stressful and more comfortable but failing interpersonal relationships, there is no possibility to exchange information and opinions, to establish human and interpersonal relationships or even to share the stress» continues the consultant.
But be careful, as anticipated it is not a recent phenomenon, «before it manifested itself with unsatisfactory relationships between colleagues, with establishing non-positive relationships in the workplace and therefore feeling alone for most of the day». In this sense, maybe smart working may have mitigated the sense of loneliness.
Professional loneliness, a discomfort not experienced by everyone
Although, as the expert points out, these feelings can be felt by everyone without distinctionactually the research brings out very clear data: the younger ones are more affected by professional loneliness. In particular, those who have been working for up to 5 years and who feel a deep sense of unease that also affects 39% of the interviewees, according to research data.
Curious fact is that, the more years of seniority mature, the more these feelings seem to swarm. How come? «It probably happens because the more time you spend within the same company, the more human relationships and relationships are also established that mitigate this feeling. Those with more seniority have found their place, their role, while the younger ones often go through an initial phase of adaptation which leads them to change various jobs until they find the most suitable environment for them».
Decline in productivity, job change and burnout among the risks of hardship
But what are the risks of professional loneliness? «The first phenomenon resulting from this unease are the many resignations that have taken place in recent years have increased worldwide. In fact, at very high levels, the perception of professional loneliness can contribute to triggering depressive disorders, burnout, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders”.
Also confirming is a research conducted by Il Sole 24 ore which underlined a increase in sick days, quantified at 42 per year, and a drop in productivity ranging between 50-70%. Added to this is dissatisfaction. As the research conducted by the Big also reports, Censis has highlighted for the 2022 the dissatisfaction of eight out of ten Italians who feel they deserve more from their workplacea consequent reduction of one’s involvement and the birth of phenomena such as Quite Quitting.
Company-wide changes
Access to tools for psychological and physical well-being it is the main tool that companies should begin to implement and which, according to research data, many are already implementing.
So how to intervene? «First of all by fielding personalized interventions on the individual that help eliminate the factors that trigger perception of professional loneliness. Also, it should monitor the level of employee satisfaction with respect to the actions taken. Depending on the need, companies can intervene limiting the use of smart working for those employees who do not consider it a satisfactory method or, when not possible, organize moments where workers can meet to make shared experiences and establish human connections» concludes the expert.
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