Abstract
Social networks at work are vital to individual well-being and organizational productivity. Nevertheless, many individuals experience workplace social loneliness. We adopt a social network perspective and propose a conceptual framework to understand how social loneliness is related to social networks in the workplace. We pinpoint four critical aspects of this relationship: social tie selection, network structure, network dynamics, and moderators. We specifically look at how the structure of these networks (i.e., their density, centrality, and structural holes), as well as network dynamics (i.e., the formation and breaking of ties), affect the evolution of social loneliness in the workplace. Moderators include individual and organizational characteristics that moderate the relationship between the three previous dimensions and workplace social loneliness. The conceptual framework offers insights into creating targeted interventions to reduce workplace social isolation, build a supportive environment, enhance individual well-being, and boost organizational productivity.