--- title: Why social wellness is important to mental health description: As lockdown restrictions lift and employees return to work, social wellness needs to become a priority for employers who are looking to support mental health. image: https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/Dialogue%20(UK%20-%20Global)/social-wellbeing.jpg --- Français (Canada) English (Canada) English (Global) [![logo (1)](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/logo%20(1).svg) ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/) - Our Solutions ** #### Overview - [![Dialogue IHP-1](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Dialogue%20IHP-1.svg) Digital Health and Wellbeing Our health and wellness software provides the complete solution your customers and employees need. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/health-and-wellness-solutions/) #### Programs - [![EAP](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/EAP.svg) Health & Well-being Program Empowering all employees to take care of their own wellbeing journey with science and clinically backed wellbeing resources. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/solutions/employees-mental-health-wellbeing-programme/) - [![Our medical team is fully trained](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Our%20medical%20team%20is%20fully%20trained.svg) Customer Engagement Program A configurable wellbeing platform for large organizations. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/solutions/digital-health/) - [![Primary Care](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Primary%20Care.svg) Digital Mental Health Tools Flexible health and wellness API that plugs the very best of our platform into yours. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/solutions/wellness-technology/) - [![send_to_mobile](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/send_to_mobile.png) Catalyst A unifying platform built to drive proactive engagement ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/solutions/catalyst) #### Ultimate Guides - [![Ultimate Guide](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Ultimate%20Guide%20to%20EAP.svg) The ultimate guide to achieving total employee wellbeing This ultimate guide will help you manoeuvre the ins and outs of employee wellbeing. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/exclusive-report/the-ultimate-guide-to-achieving-total-employee-wellbeing/) - [ Contact us ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/contact/) - Why Dialogue ** #### Dialogue Experience - [![Partners](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Partners.svg) For employers Meaningfully engage your employees in their wellbeing with our complete wellness platform. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/employee-wellness/) - [![For insurers](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Organizational%20Leader.svg) For insurers Find out how insurers are using our technology to improve customer engagement and retention. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/insurtech/) #### Why Dialogue - [![About us](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Dialogue%20IHP-1.svg) About us Global health platform that enables organisations to generate meaningful engagement with their members. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/company/) #### Work with us - [![Career](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Career.svg) Careers Join a team that is building a healthier future. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/careers/) - [ Contact us ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/contact/) - Resources ** #### Learn - [![Blog](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Blog.svg) Blog Read the latest blogs from our community of health and wellness professionals. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/blog/) - [![How were different](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/How%20were%20different.svg) Newsletter Get the month’s best stories from wellbeing, HR, benefits, tech and beyond, straight to your inbox. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/newsletter/) #### Case study - [![Case Study](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/new-menu-icons/Case%20Study.svg) Bupa Find out how Bupa is using our enterprise solution to improve customer engagement and retention. ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/case-study/bupa/) #### Exclusive Reports [![Fostering Wellbeing excellence: Download the exclusive guide: Navigating the Path to Employee Health and Happiness.](https://www.dialogue.co/hs-fs/hubfs/thumbnail-large.png?width=241&height=170&name=thumbnail-large.png) ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/exclusive-report/navigating-the-path-to-employee-health-and-happiness) #### [Fostering Wellbeing excellence](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/exclusive-report/navigating-the-path-to-employee-health-and-happiness) Download the exclusive guide: Navigating the Path to Employee Health and Happiness. 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[Read now](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/exclusive-report/the-ultimate-guide-to-achieving-total-employee-wellbeing/) - [ Contact us ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/contact/) - [ Blog ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/blog) ** - - [ Contact us ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/contact/) - Login - [![user-s](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/Dialogue%20Icons/Menu%20SVG%20Icons/user-s.svg) ![user-color](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/Dialogue%20Icons/Menu%20SVG%20Icons/user-color.svg) Member Login ](https://app.dialoguecorp.eu/) - [ Contact us ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/contact/) [**En** (Global) ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/blog/why-social-wellness-is-important-to-mental-health/#) [![Canada (EN)](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/flags/ca.png) Canada (EN) ](https://www.dialogue.co/en/) [![Canada (FR)](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/flags/ca.png) Canada (FR) ](https://www.dialogue.co/fr/) [![Global (EN)](https://www.dialogue.co/hubfs/flags/globe.png) Global (EN) ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/blog/why-social-wellness-is-important-to-mental-health/) ![Why social wellness is important to mental health](https://www.dialogue.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Dialogue%20(UK%20-%20Global)/social-wellbeing.jpg?width=300&name=social-wellbeing.jpg) 4 min read # Why social wellness is important to mental health [Previous ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/blog/kimberley-wilson-whole-body-mental-health/) [Next ](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/blog/mental-health-in-the-workplace/) * * ## Everyone’s lives have changed over the past year. COVID-19 has seen people work remotely, in furlough, and many experience unprecedented amounts of stress - that's why social wellbeing needs to become a top concern for employers With restrictions easing, employees are beginning to return to work and rebuild the networks they had left behind in March 2020. While many employers may be considering the health of employees and the practicalities of keeping COVID at bay in the office, it’s also crucial not to forget [mental health in the workplace](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/blog/mental-health-in-the-workplace/) – and particularly social wellness. Is this for employers to consider? Undoubtedly yes, here’s why.   ## A foundational pillar It is generally considered that there are four pillars of wellness – physical, mental, financial and social. While the first three are often focused on within a work context, the last should not be underestimated. All four impact each other, and if someone is struggling in one area, they may begin to struggle in the others too. A 2007 study that looked at workplace resilience and the ability to positively adjust to adversity, found that nurturing professional relationships was a key characteristic of resilient employees. Another study, by Officevibe, found that [70% of employees say that friendship at work is the most important](https://officevibe.com/blog/infographic-friends-at-work) element to a happy work life, while analysis by Gallup found that employees are [50% more likely to report high social wellness](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/08/how-make-friends-lonely-boss-workaholic/615709/) if they have a best friend at work.    ## Loneliness linked to burnout Loneliness and poor social wellness has also been proven to have a negative impact on employees, with research showing [loneliness at work is linked to burnout](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213058615300097) among managers. However, social wellness is especially important in the light of the past year. Social interactions have changed to their core since March 2020, with remote working, two-metre social distancing, mask wearing and the stay at home order. Over 20% of employees have said the pandemic has made them feel more lonely, according to a study by Westfield Health, while 52% said they feel less connected to colleagues since they have worked remotely. Given the importance of social wellness to resilience and happiness, it is crucial for employers to take steps to help rebuild that wellness as employees return to the workplace.   ## The furlough fog   But, not all employees will have had the same experience over the past year. A study into furloughed workers found that 56% said their mental health had got worse due to being furloughed, while 61% said financial concerns were a source of stress, and 38% said their physical health had got worse. That’s despite 83% of employers using multiple channels to regularly communicate with furloughed employees, according to research by recruitment firm Wade Macdonald and law firm Doyle Clayton. While it was important to take steps to look after employee mental health during furlough and remote working, it’s also crucial to keep taking steps to ensure that employees can rebuild networks well. Some employees will find stepping back into work and social interactions more of a challenge than others. It’s a potential that furloughed workers might go through a ‘furlough fog’, where everything feels much harder and less clear than before. They may feel entirely disconnected with changes at work. Others might experience FOMO (fear of missing out), or overwhelm at changes in social dynamics.   ## Distance doesn’t have to mean disconnected   Research by TenSpot has also found that 75% of workers want to keep working remotely at least a few days a week after the pandemic is over. Some might combine the two – meaning employers need to think about a blended approach of both remote and in-person connection. It’s important to be mindful of this difference and to be flexible and compassionate in your approach to social wellness. Communicating with employees via an engagement survey could create an open dialogue to see what people are struggling with and tailor responses accordingly. Using a buddy system to ensure everyone is being included, or uniting over a common non-work goal like taking on an active challenge for charity can also be useful tools to re-engaging employees. Try multiple methods of reintegrating people to cater to different needs, or make it optional so people can go at their own pace. Tech can provide support for employees so they become healthier, happier and more productive. It can also ensure that employers can take a blended approach to support their people, not least through challenges and social activity. Social wellness is a key aspect of overall mental health and it can take time to develop, but what’s important as an employer is not to underestimate the positive impact they can make by considering how to reintegrate teams and create connection. Personalised action plans, practical strategies and financial tips are all available to your employees exclusively on Dialogue to help them become happier, healthier and wealthier. **Find out how our [Workplace Wellness](https://www.dialogue.co/en-gb/employee-wellness/) platform can help your staff become happier and healthier at work.** ## Related Articles ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "abstract" : "As lockdown restrictions lift and employees return to work, social wellness needs to become a priority for employers who are looking to support mental health.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dialogue (Global)" }, "dateModified" : "November 7, 2023 3 PM", "datePublished" : "November 7, 2023 3 PM", "headline" : "Why social wellness is important to mental health", "image" : "https://5213739.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5213739/Dialogue%20%28UK%20-%20Global%29/social-wellbeing.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en-gb", "keywords" : "[Workplace Wellbeing]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "Why social wellness is important to mental health", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent30.net/hubfs/5213739/logo-3.png" }, "name" : "Dialogue" }, "text" : "Everyone’s lives have changed over the past year. COVID-19 has seen people work remotely, in furlough, and many experience unprecedented amounts of stress - that's why social wellbeing needs to become a top concern for employers With restrictions easing, employees are beginning to return to work and rebuild the networks they had left behind in March 2020. While many employers may be considering the health of employees and the practicalities of keeping COVID at bay in the office, it’s also crucial not to forget mental health in the workplace – and particularly social wellness. Is this for employers to consider? Undoubtedly yes, here’s why. A foundational pillar It is generally considered that there are four pillars of wellness – physical, mental, financial and social. While the first three are often focused on within a work context, the last should not be underestimated. All four impact each other, and if someone is struggling in one area, they may begin to struggle in the others too. A 2007 study that looked at workplace resilience and the ability to positively adjust to adversity, found that nurturing professional relationships was a key characteristic of resilient employees. Another study, by Officevibe, found that 70% of employees say that friendship at work is the most important element to a happy work life, while analysis by Gallup found that employees are 50% more likely to report high social wellness if they have a best friend at work. Loneliness linked to burnout Loneliness and poor social wellness has also been proven to have a negative impact on employees, with research showing loneliness at work is linked to burnout among managers. However, social wellness is especially important in the light of the past year. Social interactions have changed to their core since March 2020, with remote working, two-metre social distancing, mask wearing and the stay at home order. Over 20% of employees have said the pandemic has made them feel more lonely, according to a study by Westfield Health, while 52% said they feel less connected to colleagues since they have worked remotely. Given the importance of social wellness to resilience and happiness, it is crucial for employers to take steps to help rebuild that wellness as employees return to the workplace. The furlough fog But, not all employees will have had the same experience over the past year. A study into furloughed workers found that 56% said their mental health had got worse due to being furloughed, while 61% said financial concerns were a source of stress, and 38% said their physical health had got worse. That’s despite 83% of employers using multiple channels to regularly communicate with furloughed employees, according to research by recruitment firm Wade Macdonald and law firm Doyle Clayton. While it was important to take steps to look after employee mental health during furlough and remote working, it’s also crucial to keep taking steps to ensure that employees can rebuild networks well. Some employees will find stepping back into work and social interactions more of a challenge than others. It’s a potential that furloughed workers might go through a ‘furlough fog’, where everything feels much harder and less clear than before. They may feel entirely disconnected with changes at work. Others might experience FOMO (fear of missing out), or overwhelm at changes in social dynamics. Distance doesn’t have to mean disconnected Research by TenSpot has also found that 75% of workers want to keep working remotely at least a few days a week after the pandemic is over. Some might combine the two – meaning employers need to think about a blended approach of both remote and in-person connection. It’s important to be mindful of this difference and to be flexible and compassionate in your approach to social wellness. Communicating with employees via an engagement survey could create an open dialogue to see what people are struggling with and tailor responses accordingly. Using a buddy system to ensure everyone is being included, or uniting over a common non-work goal like taking on an active challenge for charity can also be useful tools to re-engaging employees. Try multiple methods of reintegrating people to cater to different needs, or make it optional so people can go at their own pace. Tech can provide support for employees so they become healthier, happier and more productive. It can also ensure that employers can take a blended approach to support their people, not least through challenges and social activity. Social wellness is a key aspect of overall mental health and it can take time to develop, but what’s important as an employer is not to underestimate the positive impact they can make by considering how to reintegrate teams and create connection. Personalised action plans, practical strategies and financial tips are all available to your employees exclusively on Dialogue to help them become happier, healthier and wealthier. 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