Modern Day Loneliness: Why Connection Is a Workplace Issue
By Louise Dennison O’Shaughnessy
“Loneliness rarely shows up as a complaint. It shows up as silence and silence is the easiest thing in a workplace to miss.”
Most of us think of loneliness as something that happens after work, sitting alone in the evening, scrolling through a phone. In my work as a Director of Mental Health and Wellbeing, I see it show up most during the working day. A lunch eaten alone at a desk. A camera that never goes on. Someone who’s moved to a new town for the job, is still finding their feet with the language, and hasn’t made a single friend outside of work. A new starter, six months in, who still doesn’t really know who to ask for help.
This isn’t a small thing. More than a third of remote workers in Ireland say they feel lonelier than they did when working from an office according to Microsoft Ireland Work Trend Index, 2022. Over half (56%) of Irish professionals now work remotely or in a hybrid model, this isn’t a niche problem, it touches a huge percentage of the workforce.
I’ve sat with managers who were sure their team was “fine,” simply because nobody had said otherwise. Then we sat down with the team and simply asked them how they were, and several people admitted they felt invisible: disconnected from colleagues, unsure where they fit, reluctant to speak up.
Loneliness tends to hit younger workers hardest (Gallup, State of the Global Workplace), and many of them started their careers remotely, with no in-person induction, no desk near a mentor, no quick chat over the kettle to fall back on, no buddy system in place.
“A team can be hitting every target and still be quietly falling apart. Productivity and connection are not the same thing.”
Isolation, disengagement and burnout feed off each other. A worker who feels unseen stops putting their hand up, stops flagging problems, and slowly stops caring, often long before anyone notices.
The fix isn’t another wellness webinar. It’s leaders who actually show up, in person or on a screen. It’s onboarding built around relationships, not just logins. Just as importantly, it’s someone noticing when a usually chatty colleague has gone quiet. In practice, this isn’t about grand gestures.
It’s a plant manager who walks the floor during the night shift, not just nine-to-five, and actually stops to ask how someone’s doing rather than just checking the numbers. It’s a senior leader who turns their camera on for a team call instead of dialling in silently, or who eats lunch in the canteen now and then instead of always in their office.
It’s remembering that someone’s mother was in hospital last week and asking how she’s getting on. It’s noticing when someone who’s normally chatty has gone quiet for a few days, and checking in before it becomes a one-to-one about performance. None of it costs anything, it just takes consistency.
Connection at work isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a safety issue, and it deserves the same seat at the table as stress, burnout and physical risk.
Perhaps the most important question for leaders is not whether loneliness exists within their organisation, but whether they would recognise it if it did.
The conversations we create, the relationships we encourage and the culture we build all influence whether people feel connected, valued and supported at work. If your organisation is looking to strengthen workplace wellbeing, psychological safety and employee engagement, EHS International can help.
Thank you for reading about: Modern Day Loneliness: Why Connection Is a Workplace Issue.
About the Author: Louise Dennison O’Shaughnessy
Louise Dennison O’Shaughnessy is the Director of Mental Health & Wellness at EHS International, specialising in workplace mental health training and resilience-building. With over a decade of experience, Louise is a certified Mental Health Instructor, First Aid Trainer, and registered EMT. She is passionate about fostering supportive work environments, reducing absenteeism, and improving employee well-being through innovative training programmes.
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Resources for those in need of Mental Health Support.
At EHS International, we believe that having access to the right support at the right time can make all the difference. That’s why we’ve carefully curated a comprehensive list of trusted organisations dedicated to crisis intervention, counselling, and ongoing mental health services.
Moreover, these resources are designed to empower individuals, families, and workplaces with the tools and guidance they need to navigate mental health challenges effectively. Whether you’re seeking immediate assistance, exploring long-term support, or looking for ways to help someone in need, these organisations are ready to step in.
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