Death of the Work Friend? Brits say they miss when the office was sociable

Has your boss issued a return to the office mandate? Don’t judge them too harshly – they might just want you to attend the team social. According to a new survey, the majority of Brits now say that work-from-home policies are having a negative impact on their social life at work.

The Global Payroll Association (GPA) surveyed 1,000 employees for their views on remote work. Nearly four in five said they believe that WFH has damaged the social aspects of working, as fewer coworkers turn up to work events or sit together at lunch.

At numerous workplaces, bosses have been implementing return to office policies due to concern about the supposed WFH impact on output. However, the GPA results show that loss of pals, not productivity, is the real threat from remote work policies.

Goodbye to watercooler chats?

Working from home has killed workplace culture. Or so the GPA survey would suggest. According to the findings, 78% of employees think that not visiting the office has made it harder for them to socialise and connect with colleagues.

Despite this, there is an overwhelming desire among employees to make friends at work, with 81% of employees saying that the social aspects of work are important to them.

Having a work friend can provide a supportive shoulder for employees to lean on. They might be a best friend who the worker takes regular tea breaks with, or just be someone to ask ‘stupid’ questions to. Either way, a work friend can make a bad shift feel bearable.

As well, strong bonds between co-workers are good for business. If employees feel comfortable around each other, they will feel confident to share ideas and speak up. They might also perform better, due to feeling more responsible for their colleagues.

Engagement crisis

Socialising is also crucial for wellbeing, by reducing feelings of isolation. That staff want to socialise with their colleagues, but are unable to do so because of home working, suggests that remote workplaces could be on the brink of a loneliness epidemic.

The threat is bad news for businesses. Workers are already suffering from The Great Detachment, with many staff members feeling disengaged and unmotivated.

Experts say that crafting a positive company culture is important to lift employees out of their funk. Without face-to-face interactions, though, this is much harder to do.

Indeed, 61% of those surveyed by GPA said they believe that socialising outside of normal work hours, such as after-work drinks, is vital for fostering a good working environment.

Melanie Pizzey, CEO and Founder of the Global Payroll Association, warns that “the social element of the workplace is starting to become extinct.”

“[Socialising at work] is extremely important, both when it comes to internal bonding within the workforce, and when nurturing those all important external relationships that can be so important in getting deals over the line.”

Return to the office?

Banning remote work might seem like the logical solution to the problem. But this approach can also negatively impact wellbeing, as Lloyds Bank discovered. After it issued a return to office (RTO) order last April, satisfaction levels at the bank dropped by 12%.

So, staff don’t want to give up flexible work as an employee benefit, but they also miss the social aspects of the workplace. It’s a Catch-22 for businesses.

If a habit of isolation has set in, firms need to find a way to change their culture without curbing staff freedom. Soft-touch RTOs include adopting a hybrid work pattern, where staff come in one or two days a week, or asking them to come in for specific meetings.

Bosses might introduce KIT days, similar to those arranged for employees on maternity leave, where colleagues can plan to travel into the workplace for the same time. Forward-thinking leaders might organise team-building events on these days as an incentive for remote staff to skip the lie-in.

Beware of office nostalgia

As the old office environment looks increasingly outdated, the workplace buddy is in danger of becoming an endangered species. It may be tempting for businesses to roll back remote work and go back to the days when the office Christmas party was still a thing.

In truth, the working world has moved far away from this time. Employers need to think creatively to address the issue and embrace flexible working, instead of running from it.