Key facts
- A third of British workers report feeling lonelier at work compared to the pandemic.
- Nearly a fifth of employees go a full day without speaking to anyone.
- More than half of workers use messaging platforms to communicate with colleagues in the same office.
- Nearly half of respondents consider meetings their only meaningful workplace connection.
- 37% of workers have no friends at their workplace.
- Two in five managers experience imposter syndrome.
A recent survey by workforce engagement platform Kahoot indicates that a significant portion of British workers feel more isolated in the office than they did during the COVID-19 pandemic's remote working period. The study found that one-third of respondents feel lonelier at work now, with nearly a fifth going an entire day without speaking to anyone.
Further highlighting the disconnect, over half of workers admit to using messaging platforms like Slack and Teams to communicate with colleagues who are physically present in the same office. This trend suggests that efforts to streamline work processes, such as reducing meetings, may inadvertently be diminishing opportunities for human connection.
Nearly half of those surveyed stated that their meetings are among the few instances in a work week where they experience meaningful interaction with colleagues. The survey also revealed that 37% of workers have no friends at their workplace, and 49% speak to their manager one-on-one for less than an hour weekly, with 14% having no such interactions at all. Additionally, two in five managers reported experiencing imposter syndrome.
Despite these findings, there is a growing consensus among businesses to encourage a return to pre-pandemic office working practices. Major firms in London are actively pushing for employees to return to the office, with property developer British Land asserting that the debate is settled. New skyscraper developments in the City of London also underscore the sustained demand for central office space.