"A new study from advisory firm KPMG found that 45% of workers surveyed reported feelings of loneliness in the workplace, and the majority would trade 20% in salary in exchange for working with close friends. And 99% of workers are interested in an AI chatbot that could become a close friend or trusted companion at work. There's a business case, too: Nearly 90% said friendship-enabling cultures are crucial for retention."
"Instead of investing in a cadre of AI work buddies for employees, she advises leaders to take a three-pronged, human approach to supporting their workers during this time of uncertainty: Increasing control (giving people autonomy over how and when they work); decreasing demands (fostering a group discussion of how to make work more efficient); and increasing support (creating spaces and opportunities where coworkers can encourage each other)."
KPMG found 45% of workers report workplace loneliness, many would trade salary for close friends, and 99% express interest in AI chatbots as companions. Nearly 90% view friendship-enabling cultures as crucial for retention. Experts remain skeptical that AI can replace personal relationships and the psychological safety developed over time. Practical interventions include increasing employee control and autonomy, decreasing excessive demands through group discussions to improve efficiency, and increasing social support by creating spaces and opportunities for coworker encouragement. These human-driven measures link directly to employee wellbeing and organizational outputs.
Read at Fortune
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