Loneliness should be as important to managers, CFOs, and CEOs as it is to therapists. The last half-decade of research has demonstrated that loneliness threatens not only our physical health and well-being, but also our livelihood. Research shows that loneliness has the same effect as 15 cigarettes a day in terms of health care outcomes and health care costs. Lonelier workers perform more poorly, quit more often, and feel less satisfied with their jobs — costing employers billions. America’s loneliest workers are single and childless. They are well-educated, with doctors and lawyers feeling loneliest of all. They are more likely to work for the government. Most personally, America’s loneliest workers are non-heterosexual, and non-religious. What can managers and co-workers do to help lonely workers? The single most impactful leadership behavior you can undertake is to create opportunities for building shared meaning with colleagues. Understand what makes their work meaningful to them,

Loneliness should be as important to managers, CFOs, and CEOs as it is to therapists. The last half-decade of research has demonstrated that loneliness threatens not only our physical health and well-being, but also our livelihood. Research shows that loneliness has the same effect as 15 cigarettes a day in terms of health care outcomes and health care costs. Lonelier workers perform more poorly, quit more often, and feel less satisfied with their jobs — costing employers billions. America’s loneliest workers are single and childless. They are well-educated, with doctors and lawyers feeling loneliest of all. They are more likely to work for the government. Most personally, America’s loneliest workers are non-heterosexual, and non-religious. What can managers and co-workers do to help lonely workers? The single most impactful leadership behavior you can undertake is to create opportunities for building shared meaning with colleagues. Understand what makes their work meaningful to them,