We've been practically living (and working) in video for the last 20 months or so, and I've written about some of the issues that have arisen around employee engagement, management, and the need for side chat tools. Thinking back to the “Great Resignation” and the sheer number of employees looking to leave their companies, I see another problem emerging.
People do not develop relationships at work and are less loyal to their employer as a result. This is a problem that adds to other concerns, such as effective tutoring and a near total collapse of internship programs.
Let's explore this problem, which is likely to be particularly pronounced on vacation.
Lack of social network
There are a variety of side benefits of working in an office that we often take for granted. These include creating mentors, developing new friendships, raising awareness of new opportunities, internship opportunities, and even being a part of the internal buzz (so you know what's going on behind the scenes).
Many people have been able to maintain relationships while working remotely. But relationships that were often defined by lunchtime meetings or break room discussions are becoming rare, if they ever do. For example, the practice of going to dinner with colleagues has evaporated. Additionally, it is usually a few key people in the office who are actively hosting birthday celebrations, hosting group events, and generally creating the camaraderie essential to a successful business operation.
With these mini-events no longer taking place, organizers feel inefficient and dissatisfied, and companies can lose the human glue that holds teams together. It is an unpleasant dilemma; We know that some people leave when they are asked to return to the office, while others may leave because they are not in the office and no longer have the deep connection to the company. To hell if you do and to hell if you don't bring people to the office. It is a difficult problem to solve.
Social media or MMORG to the rescue?
It would be nice if social media, which initially seemed designed to deal with these kinds of issues, could be an answer. But operations like Facebook have become cesspools of political divisions and tirades. This development seemed to separate people, making social media (with LinkedIn a possible exception) more of a problem than an asset.
Video games, especially massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), have become a way to retain some team members. However, this compromise probably favors those who were already playing (and men in particular), while leaving others on the sidelines; This, in turn, can lead to career advancement and mentoring problems.
There is a class of games called Party Games. The Jackbox Party Pack is an example that could be used to build a small team, but it was not presented that way and does not appear to be in widespread use. These games are inclusive and fun, so revisits may be necessary as employees become less connected to their current jobs.
As companies intensify their employee acquisition efforts to deal with what appears to be a chronic worker shortage, finding a way to safely and socially re-interact with remote employees becomes essential to retain them. Employees with friends at work are reluctant to lose those friends. Many employees who do not develop these friendships are more likely to leave, or to be ignored and unhappy with their jobs. This can lead to chronic poor performance.
Long distance relationships?
As we move into this new normal, where remote working is more the norm than the exception, we must find ways to build relationships with our colleagues. These networks are essential for employee satisfaction, loyalty, advancement, mentoring, internship, and are one of the most effective defenses against the Great Renunciation. These connections tended to happen organically in the past and we unfortunately took them for granted.
Now, they rarely happen, leaving employees less connected to their companies, teams, and managers than they were before. If we don't prioritize solving this problem, the Great Renunciation will be larger and longer-lasting than it should be, and we will no doubt see a further long-term slowdown in productivity linked to it. People who don't know each other well don't tend to work well together, and we need this collaboration to be productive and successful.
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