A couple of years ago, former US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy warned that the country was facing a loneliness epidemic. The study reveals that workplace loneliness has nearly doubled since 2024, with a huge 45% of workers across all industries feeling ‘isolated and alone’ at least some of the time. So, while 30% of female workers experienced loneliness in 2024, the same was true of only 19% of male employees. Not only is loneliness associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, anxiety, depression and premature death. A Harvard Business Review report entitled ‘Loneliness is Reshaping Your Workplace’ links the phenomenon to increased burnout, declining productivity, and rising attrition – costing US companies up to $154 billion a year.