One of the things we lost with the move to remote work was the informal chats with colleagues that maintain our work relationships. With some companies choosing a hybrid or full-time remote model, we need to find ways to connect with colleagues again.
“What happens when much of the workforce isn't near a water cooler? What happens to laughs, gossip, innovation and creativity with no workplace?” asks Linda Trim, director at workplace design consultancy Giant Leap.
She advises:
- Most work relationships develop because you spend time in the same space every day, so being separated means it is hard to connect with others;
- When employees are not in the same space companies may need to make more of an effort to foster connections;
- Part of making friends at work means feeling comfortable talking about your life outside the office, and management needs to make it clear that while work is the priority, there is space to share our personal experiences, in person and online, during breaks and downtime; and
- Workers and managers need to strike a balance between leaving their personal life at the office door, which can make the office a sterile space, and giving a minute-by-minute rundown of your weekend.
