More than half of workers report feeling lonely, a condition that leads to increased absenteeism, lower engagement, and higher turnover, according to new research from The Cigna Group in the United States.
The report, “Loneliness in America 2025: A pervasive struggle requires a communal response,” is based on surveys of 7,500 adults in the United States conducted in 2024. The research found that lonely workers are more likely to miss work, disengage from their roles, and seek new employment, all of which negatively affect company performance and costs.
Lonely workers less productive, more likely to leave
Workers who are not lonely are significantly more likely to say they are willing to work harder to help their company succeed compared to lonely workers (74 per cent vs. 63 per cent), according to the study.
Lonely workers miss at least one day of work per month at higher rates than non-lonely workers (35 per cent vs. 22 per cent). They are also more likely to come to work feeling mentally disengaged (42 per cent vs. 21 per cent) and to seek new employment (36 per cent vs. 20 per cent).
Managers key to reducing workplace loneliness
The Cigna Group recommends employers empower managers to address loneliness through three strategies.
First, managers should support and model work-life balance. Lonely workers who feel their employer supports a healthy work-life balance are 10 times more likely to report high vitality than those who do not perceive that support (20 per cent vs. two per cent).
Second, managers should foster a culture of inclusion through employee resource groups, team-building activities, and opportunities for social interaction such as coffee breaks.
Third, managers should build genuine relationships with team members. Among workers who classify themselves as lonely, 19 per cent who feel understood by their manager report high vitality, compared to eight per cent who feel misunderstood.
Younger generations report higher loneliness rates
The research found that 67 per cent of Generation Z workers report feeling lonely, followed by 65 per cent of millennials, 60 per cent of Generation X, and 44 per cent of baby boomers.
However, older workers who are lonely experience more severe mental health impacts. Lonely Generation X workers rate their mental health an average of 30 points lower than non-lonely counterparts, with depression or anxiety rates 23 points higher. Among baby boomers, 73 per cent of non-lonely workers rate their mental health as excellent or very good, compared to 34 per cent of lonely baby boomers.
Caregivers face high isolation rates
Two-thirds of unpaid caregivers report feeling lonely, including parents of young children and those caring for adults or disabled individuals.
Among parents, those with children aged five or under report higher rates of feeling left out (56 per cent), lacking companionship (48 per cent), and having little in common with others (71 per cent) compared to parents of older children.
Caregivers under 45 face particularly high stress. Among caregivers in this age group, 72 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 and 69 per cent of those aged 35 to 44 report feeling lonely, compared to 59 per cent of caregivers aged 45 to 64 and 35 per cent of those 65 and older.
Younger caregivers are twice as likely as those 45 and older to report feeling excluded from the groups they want to belong to (32 per cent vs. 17 per cent). They also struggle more with self-care (57 per cent vs. 38 per cent) and meeting the financial costs of caregiving (55 per cent vs. 34 per cent).
See the full report here: https://newsroom.thecignagroup.com/the-hidden-costs-of-loneliness-at-work
