Mapping Workplace Loneliness in Remote Working Environments: Cross-Sector Evidence, Antecedents, and Organizational Implications
Keywords:
Remote Work, Workplace Loneliness, Employee Well-Being, Social Isolation, Cross-Sector Analysis
Abstract
Background: The proliferation of remote work has transformed organizational interaction dynamics and heightened concerns regarding employees’ social connectedness. However, the effects of remote work on workplace loneliness vary across organizational sectors and remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of remote work on workplace loneliness and identify contextual risk factors influencing this relationship.
Method: This study employed a systematic literature review (SLR) approach by analyzing peer-reviewed empirical studies retrieved from a major academic database. The selected articles were screened and evaluated based on predefined inclusion criteria, and the findings were synthesized to identify patterns and contextual factors associated with workplace loneliness in remote work settings.
Results: The findings demonstrate that remote work produces dual effects. On one hand, flexibility and autonomy enhance employees’ perceived control and short-term well-being. On the other hand, prolonged reductions in informal social interactions weaken employees’ sense of belonging and intensify feelings of loneliness. Sectoral differences indicate that knowledge-intensive, creative, and public service sectors are more vulnerable to relational disconnection, whereas effective communication protocols and organizational support mechanisms reduce the risk of social isolation. Furthermore, individual, occupational, and institutional factors collectively shape these outcomes.
Conclusion: This study concludes that workplace loneliness in remote work environments is a multidimensional phenomenon influenced by the interaction of personal, job-related, and organizational factors. By integrating fragmented evidence across sectors into a comprehensive analytical framework, the study highlights the importance of relational resources and provides practical implications for designing socially sustainable and psychologically supportive remote work arrangements.
References
Alimbekov, A., Azhykulov, S., Imanbaev, A., Zuluev, B., Koilubaeva, B., Sagyndykova, R., & Muratbaev, B. (2025). Perceived organizational support and job burnout with the mediating mechanism of self-esteem. International Journal of Educational Management, 39(1), 240–258. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-03-2024-0130
Almazrouei, H., Alvarez-Torres, F. J., Schiuma, G., & Lopez-Torres, G. C. (2025). The digital creative organisation: is work–life balance, remote working, and management support impacting creativity? Measuring Business Excellence, 29(4), 734–760. https://doi.org/10.1108/MBE-10-2024-0177
Amoadu, M., Agyare, D. F., Doe, P. F., & Abraham, S. A. (2025). Examining the impact of psychosocial safety climate on working conditions, well-being, and safety of healthcare providers: a scoping review. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 90. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12254-2
Ayala, Y., Tordera, N., Karaeminogullari, A., & Bayona, J. A. (2025). As lonely as the moon? When and how health beliefs of COVID-19 affect mental health, life satisfaction, and performance. International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, 28(2), 234–253. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-05-2024-0093
Baruah, A. (2025). The Impact of Computer-Mediated Communication on Relationships and Social Interactions. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 41(18), 11245–11251. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2024.2442755
Bashir, H., & Saleem, S. (2024). The Masked Mentor: Unveiling the Impact of Perceived Leader Knowledge Hiding on Employee Behavior. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 16(2), 10841–10864. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02258-4
Bauer, T. N., Erdogan, B., Ellis, A. M., Truxillo, D. M., Brady, G. M., & McCarthy, J. M. (2025). The Evolving Future of Work: Implications for Newcomer Adaptability and Connectivity During Organizational Socialization. Human Resource Management, 64(6), 1651–1668. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.70008
Bennouna, A., Boughaba, A., Djabou, S., & Mouda, M. (2025). Enhancing Workplace Well-being: Unveiling the Dynamics of Leader–Member Exchange and Worker Safety Behavior Through Psychological Safety and Job Satisfaction. Safety and Health at Work, 16(1), 36–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2024.11.003
Bryan, B. T., Andrews, G., Thompson, K. N., Qualter, P., Matthews, T., & Arseneault, L. (2023). Loneliness in the workplace: a mixed-method systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational Medicine, 73(9), 557–567. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqad138
Cresswell, K., Callaghan, M., Khan, S., Sheikh, Z., Mozaffar, H., & Sheikh, A. (2020). Investigating the use of data-driven artificial intelligence in computerised decision support systems for health and social care: A systematic review. Health Informatics Journal, 26(3), 2138–2147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458219900452
de Janasz, S., Schneer, J. A., Beutell, N., & Kim, S. (2025). Flexible but disconnected: Airbnb hosts' social isolation, work-family experience, and mental well-being. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 8(1), 183–197. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-05-2023-0371
Edeh, F. O., Zayed, N. M., Faisal-E-Alam, M., Nitsenko, V., & Bazaluk, O. (2025). Flexible working arrangements on employee well-being concerning the mobile telecommunication industry. The TQM Journal, 37(7), 1874–1891. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-11-2023-0390
Elshaer, I. A., Azazz, A. M. S., Zain, M. E. A., Fayyad, S., ElShaaer, N. I., & Mahmoud, S. W. (2025). The Dark Side of the Hospitality Industry: Workplace Bullying and Employee Well-Being with Feedback Avoidance as a Mediator and Psychological Safety as a Moderator. Healthcare, 13(3), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030319
Eng, I., Aboagye, E., Bergsten, E. L., & Strömberg, A. (2025). Balancing employee flexibility and organizational performance: implications for innovation, productivity, and company attractiveness in SMEs. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1518284
Ergun, E., Tunca, S., Cetinkaya, G., & Balcıoğlu, Y. S. (2025). Exploring the Roles of Work Engagement, Psychological Empowerment, and Perceived Organizational Support in Innovative Work Behavior: A Latent Class Analysis for Sustainable Organizational Practices. Sustainability, 17(4), 1663. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041663
Faile, K., Heydarifard, Z., & Krasikova, D. V. (2025). Reducing Workplace Loneliness and Improving Well-Being of Full-Time Remote Workers: The Benefits of Sleep. Journal of Business and Psychology, 40(6), 1355–1370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-025-10021-y
Fatima, F., Oba, P., & Sony, M. (2022). Exploring employee well-being during the COVID-19 remote work: evidence from South Africa. European Journal of Training and Development, 47. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-06-2022-0061
Ferrara, B., Pansini, M., De Vincenzi, C., Buonomo, I., & Benevene, P. (2022). Investigating the Role of Remote Working on Employees’ Performance and Well-Being: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12373. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912373
Figueiredo, E., Margaça, C., & Sánchez-García, J. C. (2025). Loneliness and Isolation in the Era of Telework: A Comprehensive Review of Challenges for Organizational Success. Healthcare, 13(16), 1943. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13161943
Folabit, N. L., C. Jita, L., & Jita, T. (2025). Impact of technology integration on students’ sense of belonging and well-being: a systematic review. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 14(2), 1075. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v14i2.30938
Gao, G., & Sai, L. (2020). Towards a “virtual” world: Social isolation and struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic as single women living alone. Gender, Work, and Organization, 27(5), 754–762. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12468
Ghonim, A., Awad, A., Shemais, M., Shma, T., & Aziz, A. (2025). Exploring the impact of flexible work arrangements on employee engagement in the telecommunications sector: a case study of Egypt. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 23(2), 198–207. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(2).2025.13
Grønstad, A., Blenkinsopp, J., & Beauregard, T. A. (2025). How flexible work arrangements and workplace factors Influence employee health and well-being: What we know and what we do not know. Beta, 39(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.18261/beta.39.1.5
Gubernator, P., Hauff, S., & Günther, N. (2025). The effectiveness of well-being-oriented human resource management in the context of telework. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 36(10), 1773–1806. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2024.2354829
Günther, N., Hauff, S., & Gubernator, P. (2022). The joint role of HRM and leadership for teleworker well-being: An analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. German Journal of Human Resource Management: Zeitschrift Für Personalforschung, 36, 239700222210836. https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022221083694
Hameli, K., & Bela, B. (2025). High commitment HRM and well-being of frontline food service employees: the mediating roles of job demands and psychological conditions. EuroMed Journal of Business, 20(1), 114–136. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-01-2023-0019
He, T., Wei, L., Goodman, M. S., Pagán, J. A., Cuevas, A. G., & Bather, J. R. (2026). Remote work and loneliness: Evidence from a nationally representative sample of employed U.S. adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 393, 120456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120456
Hirschmann, F., Neumayr, T., Schönböck, J., Kovacs, C., & Augstein, M. (2025). Concept, Challenges, and Requirements of Hybrid Collaboration Spaces: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 1–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2025.2532713
Hislop, D., Axtell, C., Collins, A., Daniels, K., Glover, J., & Niven, K. (2015). Information and Organization Variability in the Use of Mobile ICTs by Homeworkers and Its Consequences for Boundary Management and Social Isolation. INFORG, 25(4), 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoandorg.2015.10.001
Jin, J., & Ikeda, H. (2025). Workplace Loneliness and Job Crafting among Employees: The Roles of Organization-Based Self-Esteem and Self-Rated Performance. International Journal of Organizational Leadership, 0(0), 790–808. https://doi.org/10.33844/ijol.2025.60533
Kabir, K. S., Cohoon, J., Lund, J. R., Chen, J. M., Metz, A. J., & Wiese, J. (2025). Balancing Care Responsibilities with Remote Work. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 9(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1145/3701182
Kalmanovich-Cohen, H., & Stanton, S. J. (2025). When working from home leads to burnout: the role of work–family conflict, job stress, and partner work practices. International Journal of Manpower, 46(7), 1321–1336. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-11-2024-0773
Kamboj, J., & A, E. (2025). Hypothesized the relationship between work–family boundaries, work–life balance, workload, and employees’ well-being: Moderated mediation analysis. Human Systems Management, 44(5), 852–877. https://doi.org/10.1177/01672533251331490
Karim, R. Al, Jebunnesa, U., & Rabiul, M. K. (2025). Linking talent management, work engagement, and sustainable organizational performance: the mediating role of perceived supervisor support and perceived organizational support. Global Knowledge, Memory, and Communication. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-06-2024-0383
Korkmaz, U., Şimşek, M. H., & Şahin, Ö. F. (2025). The effect of emotion regulation difficulties and loneliness on anxiety, depression, and stress levels in remote workers. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2572. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23855-1
Kossen, C., & Berg, A. M. Van Der. (2022). When the exception becomes the norm : A quantitative analysis of the dark side of work from home. (April 2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022221083695
Kothawala, A., Haddad, A. J., Loa, P., Lee, Y., Circella, G., & Bhat, C. R. (2025). Hybrid Workers’ Activity Intensity: Post-Pandemic Comparison of Telework-Only and in-Person Workdays. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2679(11), 260–273. https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981251347299
Kulachai, W. (2025). Exploring the pathway to innovation: the mediating role of employee engagement in the Trust-Creativity Nexus. International Review of Public Administration, 30(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/12294659.2024.2416274
Leong, W. I., Wei, L., Goodman, M. S., Pagán, J. A., Cuevas, A. G., & Bather, J. R. (2025). Remote work and mental health among employed US adults. Occupational Medicine, 75(6), 364–368. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaf050
Li, X., Xu, Y., & Huang, D. (2025). Exploring the interplay between social connectedness, job control, and organizational commitment: the mediating role of work engagement among Chinese teachers. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02355-2
Mahomed, F., Oba, P., & Sony, M. (2025). Exploring employee well-being during the COVID-19 remote work : evidence from South Africa. 47(10), 91–111. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-06-2022-0061
Mandal, Dr. S., Dubey, Dr. R., & Raman, Dr. R. (2025). Revenge travel unleashed: The behavioral echo of work-from-home culture. Sustainable Futures, 9, 100503. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100503
Matthews, T., Danese, A., Caspi, A., Fisher, H. L., Goldman-Mellor, S., Kepa, A., Moffitt, T. E., Odgers, C. L., & Arseneault, L. (2019). Lonely young adults in modern Britain: findings from an epidemiological cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 49(2), 268–277. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000788
McCarthy, J. M., Erdogan, B., Bauer, T. N., Kudret, S., & Campion, E. (2026a). All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness. Journal of Management, 52(1), 283–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063241313320
McCarthy, J. M., Erdogan, B., Bauer, T. N., Kudret, S., & Campion, E. (2026b). All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness. Journal of Management, 52(1), 283–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063241313320
McCollum, D. (2025). Post‐pandemic geographies of working from home: More of the same for spatial inequalities? Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 50(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12749
Methot, J., Frank, E., & Shin, J. (2026). Talking Back Stage: A Review and Synthesis of Informal Social Communication in Organizations. Academy of Management Annals, 20(1), 359–399. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2024.0062
Ng, E. S., Stanton, P., Umeh, C., Bamber, G. J., Stone, D., Lukaszewski, K., Aw, S., Lyons, S., Schweitzer, L., Ren, S., Özbilgin, M. F., & Varma, A. (2025). Megatrends affecting the world of work: Implications for human resource management. Personnel Review, 54(5), 1113–1149. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-02-2025-0100
Nguyen, G. T., Matošková, J., Pham, N. T., & Nguyen, M. T. (2025). Employee informal coaching and job performance in higher education: The role of perceived organizational support and transformational leadership. PLOS ONE, 20(4), e0320577. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320577
Nguyen, H. N. (2021). Burnout, inter-role conflict, and job performance among bankers with children during social isolation. Banks and Bank Systems, 16, 137–148. https://doi.org/10.21511/bbs.16(4).2021.12
Nikolić, D., & Ewart, I. (2025). Going beyond net zero: digital twins for achieving socio-ecological sustainability in the built environment. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-01-2025-0024
Oh, I., Rowley, C., Shan, B., & Hwang, H. (2025). Loneliness during work-from-home: the case of Chinese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asia Pacific Business Review, 31(4), 669–691. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602381.2023.2294079
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Petitta, L., & Ghezzi, V. (2025). Remote Work and Psychological Distance: Organizational Belongingness as a Resource Against Work Stressors and Employee Performance Impairment and Distress. Sustainability, 17(4), 1342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041342
Puyané, M., Chabrera, C., Camón, E., & Cabrera, E. (2025). Uncovering the impact of loneliness in ageing populations: a comprehensive scoping review. BMC Geriatrics, 25(1), 244. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05846-4
Rasool, S. F., Mohelska, H., Rehman, F. U., Raza, H., & Asghar, M. Z. (2025). Exploring the Nexus Between a Supportive Workplace Environment, Employee Engagement, and Employee Performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Administrative Sciences, 15(6), 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15060230
Ren, X., Hao, Y., & Xu, J. (2025). How do Teleworkers Relieve Negative Emotions to Improve Job Performance Through Enterprise Social Media? The Conservation of Resources Theory View. Social Science Computer Review, 43(1), 110–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393241235183
Rezaei, M. (2025). Unlocking knowledge transfer dynamics across borders: key drivers in international strategic alliances. Journal of Knowledge Management, 29(8), 2497–2517. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-12-2023-1188
Satomura, H., Sato, I., Ishigure, Y., Saito, T., Ishii, M., & Shibusawa, U. (2025). Telework Support Method to Reduce Loneliness by Improving Interpersonal trust Using Well-Being Values (pp. 184–194). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-94162-7_18
Schiemer, C., Horswill, M. S., Hill, A., Summers, M. J., & Stefanidis, K. B. (2025). The acute effects of vaporized cannabis on drivers’ hazard perception and risk-taking behaviors in medicinal patients: A within-subjects experiment. Journal of Safety Research, 92, 385–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.12.004
Sundermeyer, S. (2025). Time will tell : Working from home and job satisfaction over time. https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022241310999
Ugochukwu, E. S., Khan, S., Jonathan, G. M., & Aasi, P. (2025). IT Project Management in a Remote Work Environment. Procedia Computer Science, 263, 539–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2025.07.065
Usman, M., Ahmad, M., & Qamar, A. A. (2025). The Impact of Hybrid Work on Communication and Innovation in Tech Start-Ups: A Conceptual Analysis. European Journal of Management, Economics and Business, 2(6), 175–193. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejmeb.2025.2(6).13
Wahyuni, D., & Muafi, M. (2021). Effects of workplace loneliness and perceived organizational support towards intention to leave mediated by organizational commitment. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478), 10(4), 01–16. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v10i4.1212
Walz, T., Kensbock, J. M., de Jong, S. B., & Kunze, F. (2024). Lonely Work Home? The impact of work/home demands and support on workplace loneliness during remote work. European Management Journal, 42(5), 767–778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2023.05.001
Wright, S. (2025). The future of work loneliness Research. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 65, 101571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101571
Yan, R., Yang, Y., & Zhao, M. (2025). The ethical threat of loneliness: the impact of workplace loneliness on cheating behavior. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 477. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04769-0
Zeb, A., Bin Othayman, M., Goh, G. G. G., & Shah, S. A. A. (2025). Exploring the mediating role of psychological factors in the relationship between supervisor support and job performance. Journal of Modelling in Management, 20(1), 163–181. https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-07-2023-0137
Almazrouei, H., Alvarez-Torres, F. J., Schiuma, G., & Lopez-Torres, G. C. (2025). The digital creative organisation: is work–life balance, remote working, and management support impacting creativity? Measuring Business Excellence, 29(4), 734–760. https://doi.org/10.1108/MBE-10-2024-0177
Amoadu, M., Agyare, D. F., Doe, P. F., & Abraham, S. A. (2025). Examining the impact of psychosocial safety climate on working conditions, well-being, and safety of healthcare providers: a scoping review. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 90. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12254-2
Ayala, Y., Tordera, N., Karaeminogullari, A., & Bayona, J. A. (2025). As lonely as the moon? When and how health beliefs of COVID-19 affect mental health, life satisfaction, and performance. International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, 28(2), 234–253. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-05-2024-0093
Baruah, A. (2025). The Impact of Computer-Mediated Communication on Relationships and Social Interactions. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 41(18), 11245–11251. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2024.2442755
Bashir, H., & Saleem, S. (2024). The Masked Mentor: Unveiling the Impact of Perceived Leader Knowledge Hiding on Employee Behavior. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 16(2), 10841–10864. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02258-4
Bauer, T. N., Erdogan, B., Ellis, A. M., Truxillo, D. M., Brady, G. M., & McCarthy, J. M. (2025). The Evolving Future of Work: Implications for Newcomer Adaptability and Connectivity During Organizational Socialization. Human Resource Management, 64(6), 1651–1668. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.70008
Bennouna, A., Boughaba, A., Djabou, S., & Mouda, M. (2025). Enhancing Workplace Well-being: Unveiling the Dynamics of Leader–Member Exchange and Worker Safety Behavior Through Psychological Safety and Job Satisfaction. Safety and Health at Work, 16(1), 36–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2024.11.003
Bryan, B. T., Andrews, G., Thompson, K. N., Qualter, P., Matthews, T., & Arseneault, L. (2023). Loneliness in the workplace: a mixed-method systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational Medicine, 73(9), 557–567. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqad138
Cresswell, K., Callaghan, M., Khan, S., Sheikh, Z., Mozaffar, H., & Sheikh, A. (2020). Investigating the use of data-driven artificial intelligence in computerised decision support systems for health and social care: A systematic review. Health Informatics Journal, 26(3), 2138–2147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458219900452
de Janasz, S., Schneer, J. A., Beutell, N., & Kim, S. (2025). Flexible but disconnected: Airbnb hosts' social isolation, work-family experience, and mental well-being. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 8(1), 183–197. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-05-2023-0371
Edeh, F. O., Zayed, N. M., Faisal-E-Alam, M., Nitsenko, V., & Bazaluk, O. (2025). Flexible working arrangements on employee well-being concerning the mobile telecommunication industry. The TQM Journal, 37(7), 1874–1891. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-11-2023-0390
Elshaer, I. A., Azazz, A. M. S., Zain, M. E. A., Fayyad, S., ElShaaer, N. I., & Mahmoud, S. W. (2025). The Dark Side of the Hospitality Industry: Workplace Bullying and Employee Well-Being with Feedback Avoidance as a Mediator and Psychological Safety as a Moderator. Healthcare, 13(3), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030319
Eng, I., Aboagye, E., Bergsten, E. L., & Strömberg, A. (2025). Balancing employee flexibility and organizational performance: implications for innovation, productivity, and company attractiveness in SMEs. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1518284
Ergun, E., Tunca, S., Cetinkaya, G., & Balcıoğlu, Y. S. (2025). Exploring the Roles of Work Engagement, Psychological Empowerment, and Perceived Organizational Support in Innovative Work Behavior: A Latent Class Analysis for Sustainable Organizational Practices. Sustainability, 17(4), 1663. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041663
Faile, K., Heydarifard, Z., & Krasikova, D. V. (2025). Reducing Workplace Loneliness and Improving Well-Being of Full-Time Remote Workers: The Benefits of Sleep. Journal of Business and Psychology, 40(6), 1355–1370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-025-10021-y
Fatima, F., Oba, P., & Sony, M. (2022). Exploring employee well-being during the COVID-19 remote work: evidence from South Africa. European Journal of Training and Development, 47. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-06-2022-0061
Ferrara, B., Pansini, M., De Vincenzi, C., Buonomo, I., & Benevene, P. (2022). Investigating the Role of Remote Working on Employees’ Performance and Well-Being: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12373. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912373
Figueiredo, E., Margaça, C., & Sánchez-García, J. C. (2025). Loneliness and Isolation in the Era of Telework: A Comprehensive Review of Challenges for Organizational Success. Healthcare, 13(16), 1943. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13161943
Folabit, N. L., C. Jita, L., & Jita, T. (2025). Impact of technology integration on students’ sense of belonging and well-being: a systematic review. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 14(2), 1075. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v14i2.30938
Gao, G., & Sai, L. (2020). Towards a “virtual” world: Social isolation and struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic as single women living alone. Gender, Work, and Organization, 27(5), 754–762. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12468
Ghonim, A., Awad, A., Shemais, M., Shma, T., & Aziz, A. (2025). Exploring the impact of flexible work arrangements on employee engagement in the telecommunications sector: a case study of Egypt. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 23(2), 198–207. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(2).2025.13
Grønstad, A., Blenkinsopp, J., & Beauregard, T. A. (2025). How flexible work arrangements and workplace factors Influence employee health and well-being: What we know and what we do not know. Beta, 39(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.18261/beta.39.1.5
Gubernator, P., Hauff, S., & Günther, N. (2025). The effectiveness of well-being-oriented human resource management in the context of telework. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 36(10), 1773–1806. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2024.2354829
Günther, N., Hauff, S., & Gubernator, P. (2022). The joint role of HRM and leadership for teleworker well-being: An analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. German Journal of Human Resource Management: Zeitschrift Für Personalforschung, 36, 239700222210836. https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022221083694
Hameli, K., & Bela, B. (2025). High commitment HRM and well-being of frontline food service employees: the mediating roles of job demands and psychological conditions. EuroMed Journal of Business, 20(1), 114–136. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-01-2023-0019
He, T., Wei, L., Goodman, M. S., Pagán, J. A., Cuevas, A. G., & Bather, J. R. (2026). Remote work and loneliness: Evidence from a nationally representative sample of employed U.S. adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 393, 120456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120456
Hirschmann, F., Neumayr, T., Schönböck, J., Kovacs, C., & Augstein, M. (2025). Concept, Challenges, and Requirements of Hybrid Collaboration Spaces: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 1–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2025.2532713
Hislop, D., Axtell, C., Collins, A., Daniels, K., Glover, J., & Niven, K. (2015). Information and Organization Variability in the Use of Mobile ICTs by Homeworkers and Its Consequences for Boundary Management and Social Isolation. INFORG, 25(4), 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoandorg.2015.10.001
Jin, J., & Ikeda, H. (2025). Workplace Loneliness and Job Crafting among Employees: The Roles of Organization-Based Self-Esteem and Self-Rated Performance. International Journal of Organizational Leadership, 0(0), 790–808. https://doi.org/10.33844/ijol.2025.60533
Kabir, K. S., Cohoon, J., Lund, J. R., Chen, J. M., Metz, A. J., & Wiese, J. (2025). Balancing Care Responsibilities with Remote Work. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 9(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1145/3701182
Kalmanovich-Cohen, H., & Stanton, S. J. (2025). When working from home leads to burnout: the role of work–family conflict, job stress, and partner work practices. International Journal of Manpower, 46(7), 1321–1336. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-11-2024-0773
Kamboj, J., & A, E. (2025). Hypothesized the relationship between work–family boundaries, work–life balance, workload, and employees’ well-being: Moderated mediation analysis. Human Systems Management, 44(5), 852–877. https://doi.org/10.1177/01672533251331490
Karim, R. Al, Jebunnesa, U., & Rabiul, M. K. (2025). Linking talent management, work engagement, and sustainable organizational performance: the mediating role of perceived supervisor support and perceived organizational support. Global Knowledge, Memory, and Communication. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-06-2024-0383
Korkmaz, U., Şimşek, M. H., & Şahin, Ö. F. (2025). The effect of emotion regulation difficulties and loneliness on anxiety, depression, and stress levels in remote workers. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2572. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23855-1
Kossen, C., & Berg, A. M. Van Der. (2022). When the exception becomes the norm : A quantitative analysis of the dark side of work from home. (April 2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022221083695
Kothawala, A., Haddad, A. J., Loa, P., Lee, Y., Circella, G., & Bhat, C. R. (2025). Hybrid Workers’ Activity Intensity: Post-Pandemic Comparison of Telework-Only and in-Person Workdays. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2679(11), 260–273. https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981251347299
Kulachai, W. (2025). Exploring the pathway to innovation: the mediating role of employee engagement in the Trust-Creativity Nexus. International Review of Public Administration, 30(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/12294659.2024.2416274
Leong, W. I., Wei, L., Goodman, M. S., Pagán, J. A., Cuevas, A. G., & Bather, J. R. (2025). Remote work and mental health among employed US adults. Occupational Medicine, 75(6), 364–368. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaf050
Li, X., Xu, Y., & Huang, D. (2025). Exploring the interplay between social connectedness, job control, and organizational commitment: the mediating role of work engagement among Chinese teachers. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02355-2
Mahomed, F., Oba, P., & Sony, M. (2025). Exploring employee well-being during the COVID-19 remote work : evidence from South Africa. 47(10), 91–111. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-06-2022-0061
Mandal, Dr. S., Dubey, Dr. R., & Raman, Dr. R. (2025). Revenge travel unleashed: The behavioral echo of work-from-home culture. Sustainable Futures, 9, 100503. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100503
Matthews, T., Danese, A., Caspi, A., Fisher, H. L., Goldman-Mellor, S., Kepa, A., Moffitt, T. E., Odgers, C. L., & Arseneault, L. (2019). Lonely young adults in modern Britain: findings from an epidemiological cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 49(2), 268–277. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000788
McCarthy, J. M., Erdogan, B., Bauer, T. N., Kudret, S., & Campion, E. (2026a). All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness. Journal of Management, 52(1), 283–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063241313320
McCarthy, J. M., Erdogan, B., Bauer, T. N., Kudret, S., & Campion, E. (2026b). All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness. Journal of Management, 52(1), 283–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063241313320
McCollum, D. (2025). Post‐pandemic geographies of working from home: More of the same for spatial inequalities? Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 50(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12749
Methot, J., Frank, E., & Shin, J. (2026). Talking Back Stage: A Review and Synthesis of Informal Social Communication in Organizations. Academy of Management Annals, 20(1), 359–399. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2024.0062
Ng, E. S., Stanton, P., Umeh, C., Bamber, G. J., Stone, D., Lukaszewski, K., Aw, S., Lyons, S., Schweitzer, L., Ren, S., Özbilgin, M. F., & Varma, A. (2025). Megatrends affecting the world of work: Implications for human resource management. Personnel Review, 54(5), 1113–1149. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-02-2025-0100
Nguyen, G. T., Matošková, J., Pham, N. T., & Nguyen, M. T. (2025). Employee informal coaching and job performance in higher education: The role of perceived organizational support and transformational leadership. PLOS ONE, 20(4), e0320577. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320577
Nguyen, H. N. (2021). Burnout, inter-role conflict, and job performance among bankers with children during social isolation. Banks and Bank Systems, 16, 137–148. https://doi.org/10.21511/bbs.16(4).2021.12
Nikolić, D., & Ewart, I. (2025). Going beyond net zero: digital twins for achieving socio-ecological sustainability in the built environment. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-01-2025-0024
Oh, I., Rowley, C., Shan, B., & Hwang, H. (2025). Loneliness during work-from-home: the case of Chinese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asia Pacific Business Review, 31(4), 669–691. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602381.2023.2294079
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Petitta, L., & Ghezzi, V. (2025). Remote Work and Psychological Distance: Organizational Belongingness as a Resource Against Work Stressors and Employee Performance Impairment and Distress. Sustainability, 17(4), 1342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041342
Puyané, M., Chabrera, C., Camón, E., & Cabrera, E. (2025). Uncovering the impact of loneliness in ageing populations: a comprehensive scoping review. BMC Geriatrics, 25(1), 244. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05846-4
Rasool, S. F., Mohelska, H., Rehman, F. U., Raza, H., & Asghar, M. Z. (2025). Exploring the Nexus Between a Supportive Workplace Environment, Employee Engagement, and Employee Performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Administrative Sciences, 15(6), 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15060230
Ren, X., Hao, Y., & Xu, J. (2025). How do Teleworkers Relieve Negative Emotions to Improve Job Performance Through Enterprise Social Media? The Conservation of Resources Theory View. Social Science Computer Review, 43(1), 110–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393241235183
Rezaei, M. (2025). Unlocking knowledge transfer dynamics across borders: key drivers in international strategic alliances. Journal of Knowledge Management, 29(8), 2497–2517. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-12-2023-1188
Satomura, H., Sato, I., Ishigure, Y., Saito, T., Ishii, M., & Shibusawa, U. (2025). Telework Support Method to Reduce Loneliness by Improving Interpersonal trust Using Well-Being Values (pp. 184–194). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-94162-7_18
Schiemer, C., Horswill, M. S., Hill, A., Summers, M. J., & Stefanidis, K. B. (2025). The acute effects of vaporized cannabis on drivers’ hazard perception and risk-taking behaviors in medicinal patients: A within-subjects experiment. Journal of Safety Research, 92, 385–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.12.004
Sundermeyer, S. (2025). Time will tell : Working from home and job satisfaction over time. https://doi.org/10.1177/23970022241310999
Ugochukwu, E. S., Khan, S., Jonathan, G. M., & Aasi, P. (2025). IT Project Management in a Remote Work Environment. Procedia Computer Science, 263, 539–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2025.07.065
Usman, M., Ahmad, M., & Qamar, A. A. (2025). The Impact of Hybrid Work on Communication and Innovation in Tech Start-Ups: A Conceptual Analysis. European Journal of Management, Economics and Business, 2(6), 175–193. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejmeb.2025.2(6).13
Wahyuni, D., & Muafi, M. (2021). Effects of workplace loneliness and perceived organizational support towards intention to leave mediated by organizational commitment. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478), 10(4), 01–16. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v10i4.1212
Walz, T., Kensbock, J. M., de Jong, S. B., & Kunze, F. (2024). Lonely Work Home? The impact of work/home demands and support on workplace loneliness during remote work. European Management Journal, 42(5), 767–778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2023.05.001
Wright, S. (2025). The future of work loneliness Research. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 65, 101571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101571
Yan, R., Yang, Y., & Zhao, M. (2025). The ethical threat of loneliness: the impact of workplace loneliness on cheating behavior. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 477. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04769-0
Zeb, A., Bin Othayman, M., Goh, G. G. G., & Shah, S. A. A. (2025). Exploring the mediating role of psychological factors in the relationship between supervisor support and job performance. Journal of Modelling in Management, 20(1), 163–181. https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-07-2023-0137
Published
2026-02-20
How to Cite
Ivadianty, H. A. N., Utami, H. N., & Ruhana, I. (2026). Mapping Workplace Loneliness in Remote Working Environments: Cross-Sector Evidence, Antecedents, and Organizational Implications. Sharia Economic and Management Business Journal (SEMBJ), 7(1), 459-475. https://doi.org/10.62159/sembj.v7i1.2524
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2026 Helsa Amelia Nesya Ivadianty, Hamidah Nayati Utami, Ika Ruhana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The authors who publish in the journal agree to the following terms:
- The authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- The authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- The authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
- The authors warrant that the article is original, written by stated author(s), has not been published before, contains no unlawful statements, does not infringe the rights of others, is subject to copyright that is vested exclusively in the author and free of any third-party rights, and that any necessary written permissions to quote from other sources have been obtained by the author(s).
Jurnal Ekonomi dan Bisnis Manajemen Syariah (SEMB-J), Yayasan Darussalam Bengkulu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://siducat.org/index.php/sembj/.
