Tackling loneliness and wellbeing in the workplace

The findings were conducted by us here at NESCAFÉ as part of our ‘Make Chat Work’ campaign, and are announced amidst recent concerns around wellbeing in the construction industry – with a report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Issues Affecting Men and Boys recommending more stringent mental health provisions should be written into construction contracts.

Further insights from the research revealed that eight out of ten (79%) of construction workers agree that having opportunities to talk to colleagues around coffee breaks would make them feel less lonely. In addition, nearly all (99%) of respondents said that getting together for a coffee break is important for team morale and 94% look forward to a coffee break with colleagues.

Our ‘Make Chat Work’ campaign aims to help businesses create a culture that nurtures their employees’ wellbeing through encouraging interactions, connections and engagement between workers. As part of the campaign, we have partnered with the Construction Industry Council (CIC), to deliver insights and information to help businesses in the sector improve workplace wellbeing.

As part of the partnership with the CIC, there will be a webinar taking place on Wednesday 26th April at 12.30pm, titled ‘Combatting Loneliness in the Construction Industry’. Everyone is welcome to join and hear a panel of Industry professionals, from CIC and the Lighthouse Club charity, explore this topic. I will be speaking along with:

• Dr Wei Yang, Deputy Chair, CIC will chair the event, Wei is an internationally renowned town planner and urban designer and former RTPI President

• Andrew Outram, is Chair of the CIC 2050 Group Chair, a dynamic industry young professionals group, who represent a wide range of disciplines across the built environment

• Bill Hill, CEO at the Lighthouse Club charity, which provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families

We have also created various tools, for employers looking to support workplace wellbeing, that are free for businesses to download. This includes a Make Chat Work Guide packed full of insights, knowledge and practical tips on how to make the most of the coffee break in the workplace. There are also printable assets to display in the office including a ‘NESCAFÉ Your Way’ sheet to note how colleagues like to take their hot drinks and ‘Icebreaker’ and ‘Conversation Starter’ suggestions, designed to help ignite chat and interaction with co-workers.

To register for the free webinar click here or to download the free tools click here.

*The research was conducted by 3GEM on behalf of NESCAFÉ Make Chat Work and surveyed 350 UK construction workers / tradespeople in SME companies of 5-250 employees, October 2022