Workplace Isolation


Workplace isolation is a real and significant matter given that it is a prominent outcome after the pandemic. We have switched to remote environments and reverted back to our original workplace, so it’s obvious that these abrupt transitions make it hard to quickly recuperate. Allow HRMatrix to guide you and help you find ways to establish successful adjustments to increase your productivity without feeling isolated. 


Introverted or extroverted, we are social creatures and it is very important that workplaces acknowledge this critical feature in order to streamline progress. Employees are not drones and cannot be expected to operate efficiently without their needs being properly met. Treating your employees as equals, continuing as a pari passu atmosphere is the best way to approach these issues. 


Negative Effects


  • Lack of production

One of the most obvious outcomes of workplace isolation is the lack of progress/production. When workers and employees of any department are struggling with isolation at their job, they look for the momentum they need to increase the quality and production of work. 


  • Excessive dependency

To counteract the isolation, employees increase their dependencies to help them feel guided and better informed. Reverting back to excessive dependency as if they were just released from training is one of the most common results of workplace isolation. 


  • Aggressiveness

Sometimes, employees turn aggressive as they cannot handle the stress of feeling like they are in this on their own. Isolated routines are a burden to one’s mental health and some react aggressively.


  • Quitting

The worst outcome is quitting. Some employees cannot handle the feeling of neglect and they will use their remaining energy to cut their losses in hopes of finding a better opportunity. 



Symptoms


  • Lethargy

This is also quite common. With the lack of productivity, lethargy definitely comes into play. Isolation is quite draining, even for the introvert who is often revitalized from working alone. Isolation is unlike willed solitude. It comes in the form of neglect. 


  • Lacking interest

Much like lethargy, employees are bound to lose interest in their jobs because they are mentally managing the burden of unhealthy circumstances. 


  • Underachieving

With all of this being said, employees will begin to emit a pattern of underwhelming achievements. This might just become a standard to them since they feel they are producing/generating work all by themselves. 


Causes


  • Poor management

Poor management skills cause workers to feel and actually be isolated. This is a major issue as some management styles expect too much from their employees. It’s even worse than the type of manager that hovers to ensure that their workers are on track.


  • Used to remote work behavior

We just came out of a pandemic that forced us to work remotely. Some of us are probably still adjusting, and this is backfiring as they still feel isolated. 


  • Neglectful departments/coworkers

Neglectful departments who know nothing about teamwork may be a critical reason why your employees feel and suffer from isolation. If departments do not work as a whole, this is what usually happens. 


  • Poor communication

Communication is the best way to resolve any matter in the workplace. If the communication is bad, employees may not feel fulfilled at the workplace. That means their mental state resort to lethargy as they are going through isolation.