9th January 2026 Loneliness

A special thanks to DMH Stallard LLP for supporting us.

Dear Readers:

Loneliness at work is an issue that often goes unnoticed - yet it carries heavy consequences for employees and organisations. We have a tendency to associate loneliness with social isolation in personal life, but unfortunately, it is just as prevalent in the workplace — even in environments filled with people. (People Insight)

Contributing factors will vary from person to person but the question is why does it matter to employers if staff are feeling lonely?

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Katherine x

Loneliness

What causes loneliness at work - what factors may be contributing to loneliness at work?

Six ways to tackle loneliness in the workplace - all in a diagram.

YOO MUSE News

YOO MUSE Mentorship & Wellbeing Programme - sign up now.

YOO MUSE Events - we joined forces with DMH Stallard LLP to host a winter drinks reception.

What causes loneliness at work

Loneliness can affect many of us at one time or another and we can encounter it in different walks of life. One in five workers feel lonely at work on a typical working day, according to Mental Health UK and YouGov.

 https://mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/loneliness-and-mental-health-at-work/

The impact of workplace loneliness extends far beyond individual wellbeing, affecting productivity, employee engagement and overall organisational performance.

Many factors could come into play and understanding the cause is the first step toward addressing loneliness in a meaningful way. These are the leading causes according to Mental Health UK:

Remote and hybrid working - While flexible work arrangements offer many benefits, they can also lead to a lack of social interaction, making it harder for employees to build relationships with colleagues.

Lack of workplace culture – A workplace that does not actively encourage communication, collaboration and inclusion can leave employees feeling isolated.

High workloads – Employees who are overwhelmed with tasks may have little time to engage with colleagues, leading to feelings of detachment.

Organisational changes – Restructuring, downsizing or leadership changes can disrupt established relationships and create uncertainty, contributing to loneliness.

Unclear communication – Poor communication from management can leave employees feeling out of the loop, reinforcing a sense of disconnection.

Six ways to tackle loneliness in the workplace.

Here’s a thought….

Loneliness is subjective and there is no single solution to overcoming loneliness.

If you feel lonely, or you sense that an employee feels lonely this Connect and Thrive guide could prove to be helpful. It is written by Dr Sarah Wright, an Associate Professor of organisational behaviour, and Dr Richard A. Mackinnon, a Chartered Psychologist.

YOO MUSE Mentorship & Wellbeing Programme

There is still time to connect and arrange a few sessions with our Mentor & Wellbeing Champions.

Click ‘Tell me more!’ below to choose a Champion and sign up!

A unique blend of career mentorship and wellbeing support, helping professionals in the financial services industry to achieve both their personal and career goals.

🌟Free to financial services (or legal/accounting services) professionals

🌟Mentor & Wellbeing Champions are independent from your organisation

🌟A unique blend of career mentorship and wellbeing support

🌟Networking opportunities with peers who also care about wellbeing

🌟Join a community of like-minded people

YOO MUSE Events

At YOO MUSE we will be organising events throughout the year; some will be informal, some will be technical and some will be somewhere in between.

If you are reading this newsletter online, be sure to subscribe to our emails to hear about upcoming events.

In December, we held our first informal ‘Winter Drinks Reception’. We joined forces with DMH Stallard to gather colleagues and friends from our respective networks to connect over a few drinks.

We look forward to the getting together again soon!

Our Mission

At YOOMUSE we believe that mental and physical health are closely linked, and this plays a huge part in our professional and personal lives. We are passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing, and believe that the work environment and culture can embrace this notion and benefit massively as a result.

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