New research from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job board, has revealed that 27.2 per cent of senior leaders in the UK admit to feeling lonely in the workplace.
The research - which polled 300 senior members of staff across the UK - found that senior leaders are the most likely to feel lonely with 40.8 per cent claiming that other people’s attitudes towards them changed after they moved into their management role.
Having little in common with their colleagues was cited by 42.7per cent of those questioned, working in an office on their own by 34.4 per cent and 24.4 per cent thought it was because their colleagues are much younger than them.
More than 50 per cent claim that their home life has suffered as a result of their work, with a further 54.7 per cent saying that it’s not worth it to be where they are now professionally.
When asked what they think are the best ways for employers to prevent loneliness at work, 49.2 per cent of senior leaders suggested putting appropriate support in place; 34.5 per cent having more office socials; 32.9 per cent hiring a diverse team; 28.2 per cent constructing an open-plan office and 27 per cent improving the on-boarding process.
Lee Biggins - founder and CEO of CV-Library - commented:
“Reaching the top is an attractive goal for many, but even the most senior employees need support in the workplace, particularly if you’re working long hours and shoulder huge levels of responsibility. Naturally, as a senior member of staff, you’ll have to remain neutral towards your teams, but this can result in feelings of exclusion. Moreover, you’ll have a responsibility to provide support to your employees, but don’t forget about yourself! Seek help from other senior members of staff, especially in the transition period after being promoted.”
He continued:
“As a senior employee, you may feel unable to talk about any feelings of loneliness because of your status in the company. To combat this, it’s important to prioritise your own wellbeing and work closely with other leaders. Whether you organise company socials to blow off some steam away from the workplace, or have regular catch ups with fellow manager, it will help you to forge stronger working relationships. In turn, this should encourage a more open and supportive atmosphere.”
