Effect of Loneliness in the Workplace on Employees’ Job Performance: A Study for Hospital Employees

Abstract

Loneliness has become one of the most important problems of our time. Loneliness can be seen not only in daily life but also in the workplaces. Loneliness in the workplace has many negative effects on both employees and organizations. In this study, it was aimed to reveal the effect of loneliness in the workplace on the job performance of employees in terms of private hospitals. The study was held in Istanbul, Turkey from August 2019 to October 2019. The data of the study were collected from the employees of the private hospitals operating in Istanbul through the survey method. 393 valid questionnaires were collected for the study. When the study was completed, the loneliness levels of the participants in the workplace were found to be generally low and their job performances were to be high. As a result of the study, it was found that there is a statistically significant, negative and moderate relationship between all dimensions of loneliness in the workplace and the employees' job performance. Also, it was found that all dimensions of loneliness in the workplace negatively affect the job performance of employees. The results of this study indicate that loneliness in the workplace is a determinant for the employees' job performance According to the results of the study, hospital managements were suggested to carry out some studies in order to ensure that employees do not experience loneliness in the workplace and to improve their job performance.

'Being Alone Is More Painful than Getting Hurt': The Moderating Role of Workplace Loneliness in the Association between Workplace Ostracism and Job Performance

“…This explains the correlation of workplace loneliness and job performance. The findings of previous studies also point to the negative association between workplace loneliness and job performance (Akçit & Barutçu, 2017;Deniz, 2019;Özçelik & Barsade, 2018;Özçelik & Barsade, 2011). Thus, findings obtained in the current study seem to in line with those of previous studies.…”

“…It seems natural for employees with a sense of loneliness, who have low job satisfaction (Wright, 2005) and high intention to leave their job (Kaymaz et al, 2014), to have inferior job performance. The findings of previous studies conducted in various sectors also reveal that workplace loneliness leads to poor performance (Akçit & Barutçu, 2017;Deniz, 2019;Özçelik & Barsade, 2018;Özçelik & Barsade, 2011). Accordingly, the following hypothesis has been developed:…”

Loneliness influences avoidable absenteeism and turnover intention reported by adult workers in the United States

“…Loneliness is a multidimensional concept that generally indicates a subjective state of emotional distress from lacking desired interpersonal relationships (Heinrich and Gullone, 2006). Loneliness is not only harmful to individual physical health and mental well-being, but can also reduce job engagement, performance and continuance commitment among workers (Jung et al, 2021;Amarat et al, 2019;Deniz, 2019;Ozcelik and Barsade, 2018;Wang et al, 2018;Leigh-Hunt et al, 2017;Rico-Uribe et al, 2016;Ayazlar and G€ uzel, 2014;Aykan, 2014;Hawkley and Cacioppo, 2010;Cacioppo et al, 2006). This evidence suggests that lonely workers are at risk of withdrawing from their job.…”

“…Other investigations show negative associations between worker loneliness and organizational commitment (Jung et al, 2021;Ayazlar and G€ uzel, 2014;Aykan, 2014). Summarily, loneliness may produce worker job withdrawal behavior, generating undesirable consequences for employers (Jung et al, 2021;Amarat et al, 2019;Deniz, 2019;Ozcelik and Barsade, 2018;Ayazlar and G€ uzel, 2014;Aykan, 2014). Avoidable stress-related absenteeism and unplanned turnover invite negative costs and inefficiencies at the organizational level (Holtom et al, 2008).…”

“…While previous studies have mainly established loneliness' adverse effects on employee health and occupational outcomes (Jung et al, 2021;Amarat et al, 2019;Deniz, 2019;Ozcelik and Barsade, 2018;Wang et al, 2018;Leigh-Hunt et al, 2017;Rico-Uribe et al, 2016;Ayazlar and G€ uzel, 2014;Aykan, 2014;Hawkley and Cacioppo, 2010;Cacioppo et al, 2006), the job conditions and personal factors that manifest workplace loneliness remain unclear (Wright and Silard, 2021). Likewise, the job and personal resources which may attenuate worker loneliness have not been comparatively studied.…”