Workplace loneliness is reaching epidemic proportions. It's as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So what can be done?

Flexible work arrangements, technology, office design, even age differences are all contributing to it, affecting our mental and physical health and our productivity.

Dave Anthony, principal psychologist at Communicorp and Derya Guzel, senior psychologist and clinical lead at Assure Programs, look at why workplace loneliness is bad for workers, bosses and the company bottom line, and offer suggestions on how to identify and deal with it.

Negotiation is something we all do every day, often without even realising it.

But there is a skill to it, and on this book club episode of This Working Life we explore what works, and doesn't work, when it comes to successfully navigating these relationships.

Kyle Wilson is a former diplomat, Russian expert and visiting fellow at the Centre for European Studies at ANU and Allan Parker is a consultant and negotiator whose books include "The Negotiator's Toolkit".

They discuss our book club title "The Kremlin School of Negotiation" by Russian business coach Igor Ryzov.

Negotiation is something we all do every day, often without even realising it.

But there is a skill to it, and on this book club episode of This Working Life we explore what works, and doesn't work, when it comes to successfully navigating these relationships.

Kyle Wilson is a former diplomat, Russian expert and visiting fellow at the Centre for European Studies at ANU and Allan Parker is a consultant and negotiator whose books include "The Negotiator's Toolkit".

They discuss our book club title "The Kremlin School of Negotiation" by Russian business coach Igor Ryzov.

If we want men and women to have equal footing both at work and at home, we need to embrace flexible work.

Dr Inga Lass is a research fellow at the Melbourne Institute at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of the HILDA report. She discusses the issues with Troy Roderick, an independent consultant on diversity, and director of strategic initiatives and insights with Male Champions of Change. And fathers Andrew Hislop and Patrick Gardner share their stories on the changes they have made in their own lives to achieve a better balance.

We also hear from "Catherine" from ManelWatchAU about calling out 'manels'- all male panels or events- and giving women an equal stage.

If we want men and women to have equal footing both at work and at home, we need to embrace flexible work.

Dr Inga Lass is a research fellow at the Melbourne Institute at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of the HILDA report. She discusses the issues with Troy Roderick, an independent consultant on diversity, and director of strategic initiatives and insights with Male Champions of Change. And fathers Andrew Hislop and Patrick Gardner share their stories on the changes they have made in their own lives to achieve a better balance.

We also hear from "Catherine" from ManelWatchAU about calling out 'manels'- all male panels or events- and giving women an equal stage.

How the "power of different" can supercharge your work life - from decisions at board level, to individual careers.

Inventor, rock muso and board director Finbar O'Hanlon has made an art, and a career, out of thinking differently to the mainstream and is now called in as a consultant to share his ideas with some of Australia's largest and most conservative organisations. Then author of The People Manager's Toolkit Karen Gately tells how to use social media to your advantage in building your career plus mistakes to avoid at all costs.

How the "power of different" can supercharge your work life - from decisions at board level, to individual careers.

Inventor, rock muso and board director Finbar O'Hanlon has made an art, and a career, out of thinking differently to the mainstream and is now called in as a consultant to share his ideas with some of Australia's largest and most conservative organisations. Then author of The People Manager's Toolkit Karen Gately tells how to use social media to your advantage in building your career plus mistakes to avoid at all costs.

Find out how to build a happy workplace and how to deal with toxicity.

Brand Collective owns some of Australia's best known footwear and clothing brands. After it separated from Pacific Brands and became an independent company, its CEO, Martin Matthews, decided to completely overhaul the company's management style.

Cumbersome bureaucracy was thrown out, dogs and a quick weekly feedback system were brought in. The result has been a huge transformation where workplace happiness is now a given.

At the other extreme, HR Consultant Anna Pannuzzo talks us through toxic workplaces - what they look like, how they impact on people and what can be done to address the causes and consequences of workplace toxicity.

Find out how to build a happy workplace and how to deal with toxicity.

Brand Collective owns some of Australia's best known footwear and clothing brands. After it separated from Pacific Brands and became an independent company, its CEO, Martin Matthews, decided to completely overhaul the company's management style.

Cumbersome bureaucracy was thrown out, dogs and a quick weekly feedback system were brought in. The result has been a huge transformation where workplace happiness is now a given.

At the other extreme, HR Consultant Anna Pannuzzo talks us through toxic workplaces - what they look like, how they impact on people and what can be done to address the causes and consequences of workplace toxicity.

Former pharmaceutical global brand manager and government advisor on energy, Australian Dianne McGrath, has been shortlisted to the final 100 astronaut candidates for the Mars One mission which is slated for 2031.

The candidates call each other Martians and have been through the most stringent selection processes imaginable. Dianne shares what she has learnt about team building and reveals the surprising characteristics the selection panel looked for.