An Employee’s Social Health: Why It Matters and How to Foster It

Social health either begins at home or in the workplace. As we go about our daily lives while dealing with our obligations (both professional and personal), problems (both internal and external), and social obstacles, one problem stands out the most: the epidemic of loneliness. 

For many blessed with adequate social support systems, loneliness may appear as an afterthought. However, for those who do not have access, the absence of interpersonal communication can lead to detrimental outcomes, where one endures a world where their voice goes unheard and unnoticed. 

In the context of organizational management, loneliness has far-reaching effects on employees, including their decision to remain in their current positions and their productivity on the job. This has long-term implications for businesses and their capacity to engage and retain talent. 

In this Pacific Prime article, we’ll go into detail on what social health is, why it’s important, and how employers can play a part in boosting the social health of their employees. 

So, What Exactly is Social Health? Why Does It Matter?

Social health measures a person’s well-being based on their social interactions and relationships. Just as we monitor physical health, social health assesses the quantity and quality of human connections in our lives. 

What employers seem to forget is that employees dedicate a significant portion of their time to their professional duties, doing away with what is left of their energy and social lives in order to meet their workplace obligations. 

While the thought of this may seem grim, this can also be an opportunity for employers to fulfill that which is lacking in an employee’s life by making them feel at home in their workplace. Simply put, this means feeling seen, heard, and integrated within their workplace community. 

In this context, we’ve listed a number of key examples to elaborate on the importance of social health in the workplace:

• Sense of Belonging: A sense of belonging means employees feels an integral part of the team and the larger organization. When employees participate in regular team-building activities, they have the opportunity to share their experiences and learn about each other’s roles and personalities. 
• Emotional Support: Emotional support in the workplace is crucial for employees’ social health. Likewise, if absent at home, peer support groups provide a platform for employees to discuss work-related stress and offer mutual support, creating a sense of camaraderie and understanding. 
• Collaboration: Effective collaboration is vital for building strong professional relationships and enhancing social health. Cross-departmental projects require team members to work together, strengthening bonds and improving teamwork skills. 

The Consequences of Poor Social Health

An extreme example of poor social health is feeling completely unnoticed by others. Imagine entering a room and having no one acknowledge your presence. Such scenarios highlight the importance of social connections, as human interaction is a fundamental need. 

To provide more context, prisons often use solitary confinement as a deterrent to ensure prisoners do not repeat any offenses. It is one of the harshest punishments because it deprives individuals of social contact, leading to severe consequences, including suicide. Now, how would this affect an employee? 

The Answer:  Nobody needs to put much thought into the outcome when an employee experiences social isolation on the job. Simply put, they’ll resign. However, their departures will not be the only thing that changes; a chain reaction of resignations will follow, making it hard for the company to recruit talent in the future. 

An Employee’s Guide to Boosting Social Health

As previously mentioned, an employee’s social health either begins at the workplace or at home. When an employee’s social life at home is not up to par, it is the employer’s opportunity to ensure that the eight hours of work on each weekday bring them personal and professional fulfillment. 

Considering the United Kingdom’s 2018 government strategy dedicated to tackling loneliness, Japan’s appointment of a “Minister of Loneliness,”  and the WHO’s global commission to tackle loneliness, addressing loneliness and social isolation has now become a public health priority. 

As such, several strategies can be implemented by companies to improve the social health of their employees:

Creating Social Spaces

Investing in communal areas such as break rooms, lounges, and outdoor spaces encourages employees to interact and build relationships. These spaces provide a relaxed environment where employees can take breaks, have informal conversations, and connect on a personal level. 

A well-designed lounge area can be a center for coffee break socializing, while an outdoor patio can host team lunches and casual meetings. By encouraging these interactions, social spaces boost employee morale and engagement by fostering community.

Workplace Programs

Implementing programs that teach healthy relationship skills and foster team-building activities can help create a supportive work environment. Workshops on communication, conflict resolution, and empathy can help employees form and maintain positive relationships. 

Additionally, organizing team-building activities such as retreats, group challenges, and collaborative projects can strengthen bonds among colleagues and promote a cohesive team spirit. These programs not only improve interpersonal skills but also contribute to a more supportive workplace.

Group Interventions

Encouraging group activities promotes active participation and social engagement among employees. Group interventions, such as team brainstorming sessions, peer support groups, and training workshops, provide opportunities for employees to share ideas, discuss challenges, and offer mutual support. 

These activities help break down silos, encourage diverse perspectives, and foster a culture of collaboration. By actively engaging in group interventions, employees can build stronger connections, enhance their problem-solving skills, and create a more dynamic and inclusive work environment.

Technology-Based Interventions

Utilizing video conference and social platforms can help maintain connections, especially for remote or hybrid workers. Virtual meetings, online collaboration tools, and social networking platforms enable employees to stay connected, share updates, and collaborate seamlessly, regardless of location.

Moreover, these platforms can come in the form of employee benefits platforms, where employees can share their opinions and thoughts on their preferred benefits and what would help them at their current stage of employment. These are but a few ways of showing employees that you care. 

The Takeaway

The concept of social health shifts the focus from treatment to prevention. Instead of solely addressing existing loneliness, companies should proactively create environments that prevent isolation. Public health is most effective when it prioritizes prevention, and the same applies to social health within the workplace.

By adopting a multi-faceted approach that includes policy changes, community-building programs, and thoughtful office design, companies can foster social connections and promote a healthier, more connected workforce. 

Enhance Your Benefits with the Right Platform

To solidify their appeal as desirable employers, businesses should consider adopting the latest benefits administration platforms. The right platform can centralize all policies, manage costs effectively, boost engagement, and enhance the overall wellbeing of the workforce. 

Additionally, providing employees with convenient, portable access to instantly view and manage their benefits is essential for fostering growth in a diverse, multi-generational workplace.

Pacific Prime CXA’s One Portal enables companies to reallocate spending from treatment to prevention, addressing the unique needs of employees, including physical, mental, and financial health risks. 

If you’re in need of expert advice on employee benefits or in need of international health insurance, corporate health insurance, or expat health insurance, contact us today. 

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Piyanat Jantharot

Content Writer/Marketer at Pacific Prime

Piyanat is a Marketer and SEO Content Writer with an affinity for storytelling and marketing. He works with a team of experienced professionals at Pacific Prime who create a range of engaging and informative content aimed at helping both individuals and companies understand the importance of and benefits of insurance.

Upon graduating from Mahidol University International College’s International Relations program, he spent his career in marketing and business development, working for an international subcontractor, a marketing research firm, an international news agency, a software development company, and a creative agency. His journey now continues at Pacific Prime, where he hopes to make an impact by simplifying insurance and writing a gargantuan amount of SEO articles to draw in billions of leads.

In his free time, Piyanat is an avid martial artist and musician, spending most of his time at boxing gyms in Nakhon Pathom and music studios with his friends in the music industry.

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