Does a co-worker seem isolated at work? 

Occupational psychologist Gordon Tinline explores how the factors that lead to someone feeling lonely at work, and what readers can do to help them. 

Isolation at work has been found to be particularly damaging. Research has found that being isolated at work may be more harmful than being harassed in terms of wellbeing and employee turnover, and is more common. Meanwhile, an academic study review conducted by Valtorta et al revealed that feelings of isolation can increase the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke by around 30%. 

Over the last three decades, I have worked with a wide range of organisations and encountered many people who feel isolated at work. In this blog, I’ll be looking at what we can all do to help. 

Spotting and helping someone who feels isolated at a glance 

• There are a number of reasons or circumstances that can lead to someone being isolated at work. 
• However, some people are more vulnerable to this arising. 
• Reaching out to them doesn’t need to be a big event with lots of preparation. 

Who is more vulnerable to feeling isolated at work? 

If you have ever felt ignored at work or not part of the clique, you will recognise that it leaves you feeling that you don’t belong, or worse, that there is something wrong with you. If this treatment is deliberate, I believe it is a form of bullying. Perhaps more frequently, it happens because someone is seen as different and therefore gradually ignored and isolated. 

Isolation at work can often happen to people who are already experiencing mental health problems. To make things worse, many will tend to steer clear of people whom we think might be in a fragile state mentally. We’re afraid to say something that exacerbates any problems they may be having, or we’re not sure what to say. In other cases, there may be bias (unconscious or otherwise) toward individuals from minority groups. 

How to reach out to the people who need it 

If you believe that one of your co-workers might be feeling isolated at work, have you thought about intervening? Abbate’s research on the concept of “bystander apathy” might be relevant here. This suggests that the larger the organisation or office environment, the less likely it is that someone will intervene to support a troubled colleague. 

A kind word to someone who you believe could be feeling isolated will almost certainly benefit them, but it is also likely to have a positive impact on you. There is growing evidence that those who undertake acts of kindness benefit in terms of their own emotional experience and wellbeing. Hopefully your reasons for checking on the wellbeing of a co-worker will be primarily altruistic, but it helps to know this is likely to be good for you as well as them! 

So perhaps it’s a good time to lift your head and consider whether any of your co-workers might be feeling isolated or ostracised. Imagine yourself in their shoes and choose a moment when you can speak to them privately. 

Just ask how they are doing and listen, you don’t need to tie yourself in knots preparing a speech! However, be ready to say that you are a bit worried about them and why. They may just say they are fine but not mean it, so stick with it until you are confident your concerns are misplaced. It’s also worth thinking about where you can suggest they get support from if they do indeed seem to be finding things difficult. 

You might feel that you can offer to talk to someone on their behalf (e.g. their line manager or HR), if they don’t feel able to do this themselves. You don’t need to get too drawn in, but perhaps your intervention is the start of helping someone move into a much healthier and happier state. Why wouldn’t you do that?

What you need to remember about helping someone who seems isolated at work 

There might be a number of reasons that somebody is isolated at work. Take an opportunity to speak to them privately, and be ready to be patient if they’re not willing to share. Letting them know that you care will already be a huge help to them.