100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Jane Stephens: workmates can be win-win for bosses and staff

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Berms, seawalls and more considered for beach suburbs

Sunshine Coast Council is examining the potential for revetment walls, landscaped berms, seawalls and raised open spaces and roads for four coastal communities. Investigations are More

Restaurant workers allegedly underpaid

The Fair Work Ombudsman has started legal action alleging workers in a restaurant chain  in Sydney, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast were underpaid almost More

‘Phenomenal’ property combines acreage and town living

An “immaculate” property nestled on a sprawling block close to town is being hailed as a “phenomenal one-off”. Offered for sale for the first time, More

Photo of the day: sunset silhouette

Angel Cooke, 11, took this photo of her brother, RJ, 5, on her father's iPhone 14 Pro Max as the sun was setting. If you More

B2B: How to avoid the ‘bank loyalty tax’

For most of us, it’s been a while since we reviewed our home loan. Our financial position, including our borrowing capacity, has likely changed. A More

‘Very proud’: whisky and steak bar owners announce closure

A restaurant known for its large selection of whisky and chargrilled meats and seafood will close its doors after nearly a decade. The vision of More

Children are actively encouraged to make friends.

They are pushed together with those close in age at family gatherings. Parents drive children to play dates, sign them up for team sports and host birthday parties.

But adulthood is another matter.

Data shows that lifelong friendships are generally made before the age of 25. And in Australia, loneliness and isolation are at levels previously unheard of.

Perhaps surprisingly, it is those under 25 who are loneliest of all with men more isolated than women. Gen Z is said to be the loneliest: up to 75 per cent say they regularly feel lonely.

The World Health Organization says loneliness is a health epidemic and has a similar negative impact on life expectancy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Why is this so, when diversity has never been greater, education levels have never been higher and the population has never been bigger?

It turns out we are more polarised – more likely than ever to find a life partner in our own racial and religious group, and more likely to mix only with those who share our views.

But humans are social creatures and we need connections of different kinds to be healthy. And what better place to get a hit of social variety than in the workplace, which is deliberately diverse?

The recent moves by big organisations such as Amazon, IBM and Meta to abandon fully remote work are partly driven by recognition that employees are losing vital connections.

The Gen Z population, particularly males, suffer greatly from loneliness. Photo: Shutterstock

The mandates have cast the spotlight on a vital aspect of corporate life: workplace friendships.

Close personal ties with co-workers increase job satisfaction, give a sense of belonging and promote career advancement. They are linked to higher innovation and productivity, better collaboration and employee retention.

Author and engagement expert Gabe Zichermann says that with the right approach, companies can improve their own profits and staff cohesion as well as the stem the loneliness epidemic and cultural polarisation by supporting deep friendships among employees.

Adult friendships need care and communication, time and showing up for each other. Work provides the showing up part.

As Zichermann says, making friends at work can really change lives.

Dr Jane Stephens is a UniSC journalism lecturer, media commentator and writer.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share