A Swedish pharmacy tests paid "friendship hours" to fight workplace loneliness, offering $100 stipends.

A Swedish pharmacy chain, Apotek Hjärtat, is testing a paid "friendship hour" program offering employees 15 minutes weekly or one hour monthly to connect with friends, with a 1,000-kronor ($100) stipend for related expenses. The initiative, called "vänvård" or "friendcare," launched in April 2025 and is part of broader efforts to combat workplace loneliness, inspired by Sweden’s tax-exempt wellness benefit. Though only 11 of 4,000 employees joined the pilot, the company also provides online training on recognizing loneliness. In the U.S., 79% of white-collar workers report isolation, costing $154 billion annually in lost productivity.