💼👫 Work is better with your bestie

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Up first…

The era of the work bestie might be coming to an end. We’re not just in a loneliness epidemic, we’re in a workplace loneliness epidemic. And young people are on the front lines.

Here’s what to know:

🧍 Researchers are sounding the alarm about workplace loneliness. A 2024 Gallup survey found that one in five employees worldwide reported feeling lonely, and it was most prevalent among under 35-year-olds. Meanwhile, a 2022 BetterUp survey found that only 31% of employees felt very satisfied with their social connections in the workplace.

😥 Those stats are more concerning than meets the eye. We already know lonely people are at a higher risk for a laundry list of major health concerns. But loneliness also impacts our work: Employees who reported having a work bestie are not only more productive, but are more likely to innovate, engage customers, and have fun at work, according to Gallup. 

👫 Don’t point fingers at Gen Z. Although some corners of the internet claim that Gen Z is out on office friendships, none of the researchers we spoke to were buying it. “If workplace friendships have died, it's not because [Gen Z] killed them,” said Wright State University professor and Gen Z expert Dr. Corey Seemiller. “The desire isn’t any different.” Semiller found in her research that Gen Z ranked social wellness in the workplace as more important than Gen X or millennials, only behind “no brainers” like pay and advancement opportunities. 

🧑‍💻 However, their anxiety and a reliance on tech prooobably aren’t helping. At the end of the day, “it doesn't matter how badly you want it,” said Seemiller, making friends requires face time (by one estimation, 50 hours!). And whether it’s due to social anxiety or the perils of remote work, young people aren’t getting a lot of it. “We're not used to spontaneous conversations anymore,” said adult development researcher Dr. Robert Waldinger. “There are these kinds of synergies that don't happen when everything is regimented in online meetings.”

👨‍💼 So … who’s to blame? Your boss. Or at least, management. BU organizational psychologist Dr. Constance Hadley said simply bringing people back into the office isn’t a cure-all for loneliness. And while the buck does partially stop with employees putting themselves out there, Hadley said the folks who have the best chance of meaningful intervention are “leverage points” like management or corporate. A little sincere outreach, whether it’s pre-meeting chitchat or asking an employee to grab lunch, can have the most sway over how lonely we feel.

🌊 🥂  Dress code: pink. Beverage of choice: 90+ Cellars Boston Rosé. Set sail with fellow wine lovers on June 21 for the 11th Annual 90+ Cellars Rosé Cruise. With unlimited wine, buffet bites, a DJ, and Boston Harbor views for days, it’s the summer kickoff party your group chat has been manifesting. Come thirsty, leave sun-kissed, and pick up a commemorative bottle of the 6th edition collectors Boston Rosé at your local wine shop to relive it all later. Tickets are floating away fast — grab your early bird spot now.

🏀 This playoff series has gone from bad to straight up AWFUL. Somehow, the Celtics’ 121-113 loss against the Knicks wasn’t the worst news to come out of Monday’s game. With three minutes left, star player Jayson Tatum suffered what was later revealed to be a ruptured achilles, and underwent successful surgery Tuesday. The timeline for his return is TBD, but similar cases have left players sidelined for a full season. Until then, we’ll be ugly crying watching this heartbreaking video of Tatum leaving in a wheelchair. Game 5 is tonight. Hug your local Celtics fan.

🔌 Mass.’ energy bills could get $10 billion cheaper. On Tuesday, Gov. Maura Healey proposed legislation designed to overhaul our energy billing, cutting $10 billion over the next decade. How? Ensuring consumers are only charged for the cost of energy delivery to their homes, making it easier to add new tech to the grid, and increasing accountability for utilities. Most climate advocates are on board, but some experts worry it doesn’t crack down enough on scammy third-party electricity suppliers. Plus, the savings will mean cuts to Mass Save.

🤖 Boston is about to get a little more San Francisco. Robotaxi service Waymo is scoping out Boston as a potential expansion city for its high-tech self-driving taxis. The first step? The company will send out a bunch of cars (with humans at the wheel, thankfully) later this month to gather super-detailed info on the roads. Sounds scary? Don’t worry: Of Waymo’s 50 million miles so far, its cars have been in 78% less injury-causing crashes than human-driven rides. That said, it’ll need MassDOT’s permission to officially launch. Here’s a peek inside a robo-ride.

✈️ Boston’s bracing for a drop in tourism. Meet Boston, the city’s tourism board, is preparing for a projected 10% drop in inbound international travel this year as visitors sour on the U.S. under President Donald Trump. According to Meet Boston reps, the numbers haven’t dropped yet, but the new projections are a dramatic shift from its initially-expected 4 to 5% increase. If true, it’d put a significant dent in the $2.9 billion international travelers spent here in 2023, and the 154,330 jobs their tourism supports.

🧑‍⚕️ Salute to Nurses | Tuesday, May 20 | The Grand | The Boston Globe and Keches Law are calling all Boston nurses to a free in-person celebration of your dedication and service. Just show your nursing ID at the door! 

🌴 Rooftop at the Revere Summer Launch Party | Thursday, May 22 | $20 | Revere Hotel Rooftop | Kick off patio season in Boston with a party at one of the best rooftop bars in the city. Members get $7 off their ticket!

🍗 $1 Wings x B-Side Trivia | Wednesday, May 28 | Sam Adams Boston Brewery | Get $1 wings and play free trivia with us, hosted by the B-Side team! Members get a free beer!

🏃B-Side x We’re Not Really Runners | Wednesday, June 4 | Charles River Esplanade | We’re meeting up with WNRR for a 3-mile run (or walk!) and drinks at Night Shift to follow. Members get a free drink and a B-Side sweat towel! Registration link coming soon. 

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 The Dating Game Live | Friday, June 6 | Aeronaut Somerville | Watch B-Siders and their friends play this match-making game from the 60’s. Members get one free 5oz pour. Registration link coming soon.

Well, this might be the most Boston thing ever.

On Monday, JetBlue unveiled “Brewing Altitude,” an airplane decked out in Dunkin’s iconic pink and orange branding (with a coffee and doughnut motif!), to celebrate the airline’s nearly 20-year partnership with the Mass. coffee brand. Seriously, they covered the ENTIRE plane.

Is it technically a flying billboard? Yes. Do we still want to fly on it ASAP? Also yes. 

Some lucky travelers on a flight to Fort Myers were surprised with the plane at the gate Monday morning, enjoying free coffee, doughnuts, and a now iconic doughnut-shaped neck pillow before take off. 

And after posting this video on our IG, it’s safe to say everyone in the comments agrees that flying on the Dunkin’ plane would be winning the Masshole lottery.

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🥹 Thanks for reading! Fun fact: We ran into JetBlue’s president at the unveiling and he told us he’s an OG B-Side reader. So if you’re reading this … HI, MARTY!!!

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, 90+ Cellars, for supporting local journalism and keeping our wine racks (and summer calendars) full.

⭐ The results are in: 49% of B-Siders say Somerville’s Sarma is going to get one of the area’s first Michelin stars. One reader said: “I'm not in the tax or palate bracket to be able to answer this question.” Fair enough.

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