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Is loneliness an ‘epidemic’ that business needs to tackle? Vivek Murthy, the former US surgeon general, compared its effect on health to obesity or smoking. In the UK, the government has even appointed a minister for loneliness. But, Eric Klinenberg, a sociology professor at New York University says that data doesn’t support the idea that we’re lonelier today than in the past. However, it is a serious health problem that needs to be dealt with. We hear how people ‘catch’ emotions from others at work. Sigal Barsade, a professor of management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania tells us the negative impact on performance at work is an incentive for business leaders to tackle the issue. And for some, loneliness is a business opportunity. We hear from Karen Dolva, CEO of Norwegian start-up No Isolation, which is developing devices that help connect people who would otherwise be isolated.

(Picture: A business woman looking sad sitting on the floor. Credit: Getty Images)